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Wild Animals Don't Stop Norwalk Fishermen

FAIRFIELD, Conn. — James Blakeney and his son Jordan have been going to Lake Mohegan to fish for the last three summers. In that time, the two Norwalkers say they have never seen anything more fearsome than the dogs that go to the lake each afternoon to cool off. So despite a summer filled with reports of dangerous animal sightings, the Blakeneys continue to go to Fairfield’s outdoor areas unfazed.

“I’m not worried about [animals] at all,” Jordan said. “I’m just worried about falling in catching a fish.”

This summer some unusual visitors have been spotted in Fairfield’s rural spots. In late June, two residents in the Greenfield Hill area reported seeing a mountain lion. The big cat was the second of its kind spotted in Fairfield County. It appeared weeks after a South Dakota-born mountain lion was spotted in Greenwich and found dead in Milford.

Less than two weeks later, a Trumbull family spotted a black bear in their backyard, just over the Fairfield border. The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection lists the sighting as the only one in Fairfield or its surrounding towns in the past year.

Wild animal sightings did not stop the Blakeneys, but Fairfield resident Eunice said she was worried after hearing the news. Eunice walks Daisy, a yellow Labrador retriever, every day in the woods around Lake Mohegan. But she just returned to the trails earlier this month after a cougar-inspired hiatus.

“When the news broke about the mountain lion, I shut down walking [Daisy] for about two weeks,” said Eunice, who asked not to use her last name. “I didn’t want the experience of running into one.”

The DEEP website offers advice to hikers and dog walkers in case of a wild animal encounter. Bears tend to avoid encounters with humans, so experts suggest making noise and waving your arms to distract the animal. But you or your dog should not approach it or try to feed it. The best plan is to wait for it to leave.

Mountain lions, however, may attack humans or pets if they feel threatened. Experts suggest keeping dogs leashed and carrying a walking stick, pepper spray or anything that could be a weapon in case of an attack. If you spot a mountain lion, keep eye contact and back away slowly.

What’s the wildest animal you’ve ever encountered in Fairfield’s woods? Did reports of predators this summer keep you away? Share your experiences in the comments below. 

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