A 74-year-old woman was euthanized after she was bitten by a bear walking her dog in Avon on Friday.
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Conservation environmental conservation officers, wildlife biologists and Avon police officers responded to the black bear attack Friday morning.
A woman was walking her dog on a log along Berkshire Crossing Road when a female black bear approached her and bit her arm and leg.
Diep said the woman was taken to a local hospital and her injuries were not life-threatening.
The bear that bit the woman was 12 years old and the three-year-old child was with her, DEEP said.
They said that the elderly are ready to go out on their own and are no longer dependent on their mothers.
It’s too early to determine what caused the bear attack, but DEEP said bears see dogs as they see wild predators, and it was also garbage collection day, so there were foods that could attract bears.
Just this week, the DEEP said it responded to multiple reports of bear-house entries and had to euthanize a bear in Salisbury that entered several homes.
The bear that bit the woman was 12 years old and the three-year-old child was with her, DEEP said.
They said that the elderly are ready to go out on their own and are no longer dependent on their mothers.
DEEP urges people to be aware of bears and avoid leaving food sources that could attract them. Scare bears away from your yard so they don’t get comfortable around people.
Living with bears in Connecticut
DEEP has some recommendations about living among bears.
- Manage your trash and other things that may attract bears
- Keep barbecue grills clean
- Avoid leaving pet food outside
- Remove all traces of bird food from late March to November
- If you see a bear in your neighborhood, let it go, give it an escape route, put your dogs on a leash, and don’t get too close to get a good look or take photos.
- Scare off bears that are around your house or looking for food. Work toward preventing disturbed bear behavior before it begins.
Learn more here.
How to Report a Bear Sighting in Connecticut
You can report a bear through the DEEP website. Learn more here.
