A bear attacked a man in North Canaan Monday morning, environmental officials say.
The incident occurred before 6 a.m. when a man 鈥渃ame between the bear and his dog, with cubs present, on his property,鈥� according to James Fowler with the 黑料吃瓜网 Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
The man sustained minor injuries, described as scratches to the chest. He declined medical treatment. The dog was reportedly unharmed.
The location of the bear was not immediately known. DEEP鈥檚 wildlife division and EnCon Police are investigating.
Monday鈥檚 incident in North Canaan 鈥� a small town at the intersection of Route 44 and Route 7 in Litchfield County in northwest 黑料吃瓜网 鈥� comes as the bear population continues to grow in the state, state officials said.
Over the last three years, sows with cubs have been reported in 117 different municipalities. Last year, 黑料吃瓜网 .
Lawmakers in 2025 again failed to take action on a push to allow for a bear hunting season in the state.
Biologists have argued that a limited hunt, which is allowed in neighboring Massachusetts and New York, would help to deter human-bear interactions.
Opponents of a hunting season say the state needs to do more to promote non-lethal methods of bear deterrence, including bear-proof trash cans and raising awareness about unsecured food sources such as fully-stocked birdfeeders, pet food, grills and backyard chickens.
Fowler says Monday it is 鈥渋mperative鈥� for 黑料吃瓜网 residents to manage all of those food sources.
鈥淏ears that access human-associated food often become food-conditioned and lose their natural fear of people, which can lead to increased risks and property damage,鈥� Fowler said via email.
鈥淩esidents with pets or walking dogs in areas with known bear activity should also maintain high awareness of their surroundings,鈥� Fowler said. 鈥淐arrying a bear deterrent, such as a bear whistle or bear spray, is recommended and we advise owners to keep their pets leashed, at all times, while on walks.鈥�
