Bear Causes a Commotion in Connecticut

yahoo ^ | Jul 8, | no byline

[Cowman]

SIMSBURY, Conn. - A 300-pound male black bear caused a commotion when it ran near several businesses before being tranquilized and relocated by state officials.

The bear darted between buildings and across parking lots along Route 44 and Simsbury Commons for three hours on Thursday afternoon, surprising shoppers who gathered behind police tape with cameras and cell phones to catch a glimpse.

A team from the state Department of Environmental Protection tranquilized the animal and released it about 10 miles away in the Nepaug State Forest.

Onlookers got a last peek at the bear when it popped in and out of a wooded area behind a gas station at about 3:15 p.m., shortly after being tranquilized.

The bear, about 4 years old and 6 feet long, was first spotted at about noon in the parking lot at Simsbury Commons.

Paul Rego, a DEP wildlife biologist, said the bear was likely drawn to the area to look for mates or food, or to further his territory. He said the bear may not remain in the state forest for long — it was spotted a few days ago in a local resident's yard.

[Cowman]

the bear was likely drawn to the area to look for mates or food, or to further his territory. He said the bear may not remain in the state forest for long — it was spotted a few days ago in a local resident's yard.

The bear was carring a guide to local singles bears, a hambearger, and a listing of abeartments for rent.

[Peach]

I was working at the edge of our backyard in Connecticut, which bordered a forest, and looked up and there was a bear, just staring at me.

I slowly got up and back away and it wasn't until I was about 20 yards from the house that I turned and ran.

When we had a camp in the Adirondecks on Fourth Lake, we used to go to the dump to see the bears. It was big entertainment in those days of cottages when none of us had televisions or telephones, by design.

[theFIRMbss]

>A team from the state Department of Environmental Protection tranquilized the animal and released it about 10 miles away

This is exactly
how my last girl friend broke up
with me. Wow. Poor bear . . .

[patton]

beary interesting

[magslinger]

LOL Did you take the tag out, or are you still wearing it?

[John Filson]

We caught up with the bear and asked him a few questions. He said he was mainly misunderstood. I was just looking for a few scraps, you know, to tide me over. We asked the bear if he'd do it again, and he said, Yeah, I didn't really hurt anyone. The bear said that he wanted to use the interview as an opportunity to speak out for bears' rights. We're God's creatures, too!, he growled. We asked if we could terminate the interview at that point, and he bit the photographer.

[Cowman]

This is exactly how my last girl friend broke up

I had to end it with my last girlfriend. She was cheating on me and I didn't know until I bought a used car and found her dress in the back seat.

[Tymesup]

Maybe he'd been kicked out of his house by the Supreme Court?

[gidget7]

LOL

[gidget7]

I have seen them in CT many times while living there. And I know exactly where they are talking about, where the bear was. I know one thing for sure, Nepaug isn't very big, and the bear more than likely will find his way out quickly!

These sightings are becoming very common place in this area. We have had a big one in our yard several times, and a mother with cubs as well. Got pictures of the mother, as she came up to the picture window.

We bought air horns, and blew them out the front window or door, we haven't seen them since.

[COBOL2Java]

SIMSBURY, Conn. - A 300-pound male black bear caused a commotion when it ran near several businesses before being tranquilized and relocated by state officials.

[The Brush]

I had to end it with my last girlfriend. She was cheating on me and I didn't know until I bought a used car and found her dress in the back seat.

I ran into a similar situation with my ex.
We were supposed to be best friends, you know, like dogs.
She taught me sit, stay and fetch... one of the guys at work taught her; lie down, roll over and come.
BAD GIRL!

[johnny7]

I know this spot. I hit 'something' once right near there where 44 crosses 10-202. It ran from the bushes right into the front bumper of my Z28.

It was during the day and all I could make out was a light-brown 'blur'... fast as all hell! Couldn't pull over right away because of the heavy traffic, but when I did... there was no scrape or scratch to be seen. Nothing laying on the road or side of the road either.

[Cowman]

I could handle my girlfriend having her phone number on the mens room wall but She was on the mens room wall in person!

[Modok]

Yeti

[DouglasKC]

When we had a camp in the Adirondecks on Fourth Lake, we used to go to the dump to see the bears. It was big entertainment in those days of cottages when none of us had televisions or telephones, by design.

I had a great-grandma that lived up in Newberry in the upper penisula of Michigan. We would take trips up there in the summer when I was a kid and they too would take us to see the bears in the dump.

[scott says]

My aunt and uncle live in Simsbury and a couple of years ago had the same problem.A beer would come and rummage through the garbage cans then go into their back yard and hang out, eventually they had to get animal control come and haul the bear away! There must be a fair amount of "development" going on in the area and the bears are being flushed out.

[gidget7]

Sounds like maybe a bobcat. They are and have been growing quite plentiful. Sounds too fast to be a bear. Bears can move when they have to, but you would have seen it, they can't move THAT fast lol

[gidget7]

LOL a fair amount? It's like Simbury runs right into Canton on one side and Avon on the other. Gives urban sprawl a new meaning! But then most of western CT is that way.

[scott says]

I have 2 aunts and many cousins who live in the area, I moved away almost 20 years ago, and rarely visit.I'm not very familiar with the place anymore.Whenever I go back to Guilford, my hometown, I can't believe all the new housing developments, it bothers me to see the "progress" but I guess I should expect it.