Connecticut’s black bear population — now numbering about 800 — is continuing to grow and expand at a rate of 10-15 percent a year, based on reproduction and survival rates of these large animals.

That’s the recent assessment of Paul Rego, wildlife biologist for Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

“Their geographic range is expanding and so has our involvement,” Rego said in a phone interview, adding, “Our biggest concern (now) is bear conflict.”

This year alone, Rego said black bears have broken into 20 or more Connecticut homes.

If a bear damages fruit trees, crops, livestock or personal property, Rego said DEEP officials will trap the offending bear, ear tag it for monitoring purposes, and put the animal through a negative experience by using loud noises, or pelting it with paint balls and rubber bullets, before releasing it back into the wild.

The practice is called “aversive conditioning” and is designed to modify the bear’s behavior and teach it to avoid specific places.

The alternative is to destroy the animal, and Rego said that’s the last thing wildlife officials want to do.

Addressing problem bears is no easy matter. Rego said problem animals are rarely relocated because bears have a “very strong homing instinct,” often returning to the same spot. Further, the department can’t move bears out of the state because no state will allow it.

Rego said resident black bear populations were known in the Berkshire Mountains, but not in Connecticut until 1990. Now, black bear sightings occur almost daily in the nutmeg state.

For example, from August 2018 to mid-August of this year, some 8,100 bear sightings were recorded on the DEEP’s bear sighting web site from people in 151 different communities.

The towns with the highest black bear sightings were Avon, with 716; and Simsbury, with 682. But North Stonington and Stonington each had seven and three, respectively, demonstrating black bears visit southeastern Connecticut as well.

Why is our black bear population growing? Rego said there are two reasons. First, habitats have gotten more suitable for bears, due to reforestation of many abandoned farms, and second, the appearance of wildlife management, beginning in the early 1900s, has helped protect black bears.

Rego believes Connecticut needs to address regulated hunting of black bears. He said measures have been proposed in each of the last three years but were defeated in the legislature.

Finally, what should you do if you encounter a black bear?

Though it may be almost impossible to do, remain calm.

If the bear is aware of you and does not flee, experts urge you to stand erect and talk to the bear in a calm voice and back away slowly. They also caution you to never run or climb a tree. Why? Black bears can sprint up to 35 MPH and are expert tree climbers.

“If the bear approaches, be offensive. Make more noise, wave your arms and throw objects at the bear,” DEEP advises.

Black bears rarely attack humans. But, if you are attacked, DEEP advises, “Do not play dead. Fight back with anything available.”

Lastly, contact DEEP Wildlife Division at (860) 424-3011 to report any bear sightings.

Bill Hobbs is a resident of Stonington and a lifelong wildlife enthusiast. For comments he can be reached at whobbs246@gmail.com.