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Two Bear Sightings Reported In Westport

WESTPORT, Conn. — Another bear has decided to take a tour of Westport.

Last month, a bear cub was found by DEEP in Fairfield and relocated to a wooded area away from the suburbs.

Last month, a bear cub was found by DEEP in Fairfield and relocated to a wooded area away from the suburbs.

Photo Credit: File Photo

Westport Police received two separate reports of a black bear in the Charcoal Hill Road and Easton Road areas of town Friday morning, police said. Those roads are in the vicinity of Coleytown Elementary School, near the Merritt Parkway, in the northeastern corner of town.  

Bears are not a common sight in Westport, police said.

“It is an unusual event,” Capt. Sam Arciola told The Daily Voice, though he added this is the second report of a bear he’s aware of in recent weeks.

Arciola said the police department will leave the bear alone, unless it becomes a hazard to town residents.

“If it becomes a problem bear,” he said, “we’ll coordinate our efforts with DEEP," the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Police said the probability of a bear attacking a human is exceptionally low. While the mere presence of a bear does not necessitate its removal, the police department may attempt to remove bears from urban locations when there is little likelihood that they will leave on their own and when they are in positions where the bear can be hit with a sedative dart.

Westport Police said all bear sightings should be reported to the department and DEEP’s Wildlife Division at 860-675-8130.

If residents see a bear, the police advises them to advertise their presence by shouting and waving their arms or walk slowly away. Police advise residents to never attempt to feed or attract bears. 

Last month, Westport and Fairfield police reported bear sightings on the same day. The Fairfield bear cub was found in a tree in a backyard by DEEP and relocated to a wooded area, The Daily Voice previously reported. Bears were spotted that same day, June 25, along the Merritt Parkway. 

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