Black Bears Roaming CT Are Problematic, Pricey

There is no question that there are more black bears in Connecticut's suburban town, based on just the anecdotal evidence we have of Patch users posting photos. But state environmental officials say the increase in population is getting expensive and problematic.

Officials are pondering launching a yearly bear hunt in the state to help control the population. 

Connecticut Mirror reports Wednesday the state is now spending a quarter-million-dollars a year responding to concerns about the exploding black bear population.

According to the DEEP, there were 352 reports of damage by bears in Connecticut last year, and at least 16 incidents in the year before where bears entered homes.

Road accidents involving bears have also been on the rise, the department says, with 24 killed last year compared with fewer than 10 in 2000.

Here's a roundup of some reports of black bears this year:

• Last week, after the department decided it had become too aggressive toward humans.

• " (June 9)

• " (June 14)

• (June 15)

• (June 24)

• " (Monroe Patch, Aug. 3)

Update 1:31 p.m.:

In this area, the DEEP reported the following black bear sightings, from September 2011 to August 2012:

• Easton: 3
• New Canaan: 1
• Redding: 9
• Weston: 2
• Wilton: 5