A Connecticut man and his dog are recuperating from injuries suffered after an encounter with a black bear in the man’s backyard
July 3, 2023, 9:57 AM ET
2 minutes read
LITCHFIELD, Conn. — A Connecticut house owner was bitten by a black bear after his dog chased it into the backyard and assaulted the family pet, authorities said. Both were recuperating Monday, though the bear left into the woods.
The dog identified the bear as it was examining a bird feeder on a deck Saturday in the western Connecticut town of Litchfield and chased it, state ecological authorities said. The bear assaulted the dog and bit the 65-year-old house owner on the hand when he attempted to step in, authorities said.
The man was dealt with at a health center, and the dog was sent to a veterinary healthcare facility. The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection did not have an update on the dog’s condition.
A 74-year-old female was bitten on her limbs in April when she was assaulted by a bear while walking her dog in Avon, a Hartford residential area. There were 2 attacks in 2015, consisting of one in October in which a 10-year-old boy was whipped in a yard.
Statistics put together by the ecological department reveal that there were a record 67 reports of bears getting in Connecticut houses in 2022. The previous record was 45 in 2020.
The state General Assembly passed legislation this spring that makes it legal to eliminate a bear if individuals feel threatened by the animal or are securing themselves, a relative or family pet.
After the most recent attack, the state ecological department prompted homeowners to be mindful while hosting or going to outside occasions throughout the July Fourth vacation and to take their bird feeders down.
“Birdfeeders, along with trashcans, are one of leading causes of bear conflicts and damage reports,” the department said in a declaration.
