A bear was spotted on Brierwood Road in Norwalk on Tuesday morning and police are asking residents to keep their distance and call police to report any sighting.
Bears normally leave an area once they have sensed a human and police urge anyone who sees a bear to enjoy it from a distance.
Aggression by bears towards humans is exceptionally rare, but police are offering safety tips should you spot one.
Make noise and wave your arms if you see a bear while hiking and keep dogs on a leash and under control because a roaming dog might be perceived as a threat to a bear or its cubs.
You are also urged to walk away slowly if you surprise a bear nearby and not climb a tree, but wait in a vehicle or building for the bear to leave an area.
Bears are attracted to the garbage, pet food, compost piles, fruit trees and birdfeeders around houses, so you should remove birdfeeders and bird food from late-March through November and place garbage cans inside a garage or shed.
Add ammonia to trash to make it unpalatable and clean and store grills away after use.
Don’t intentionally feed bears, because bears that become accustomed to finding food near your home might become “problem” bears.
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Also avoid leaving pet food outside overnight and don’t add meat or sweets to a compost pile.
