A Real Bear of a Morning

A car struck a black bear early this morning, sending the ursis americanus into the woods.

It was the third time this morning that the bear was sighted around town, according to the Wilton Police Department. It's not unusual to see black bears in and around Wilton, said Lieutenant Donald Wakeman.

"It's routine," Wakeman said. "It happens."

The first call came around 6:00 am when a resident called the department to report a black bear near Riding Club Lane off of Olmstead Hill Rd. The second call came between 6:30 and 7:30 am when the bear was sighted near Merwin Lane off of Lovers Lane. And the third call came around 8:00 am to report a bear on Belden Hill Road south of Drum Hill Road.

At that time a vehicle struck the bear and it ran off into the woods in a westerly direction. Because the bear was wounded the police contacted the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.

"They like to know about bear sightings," Wakeman said. "They don't typically come down. But because it was wounded they sent someone to check."

A search of the woods where the bear was last sighted yielded no sign of the bear.

East Coast black bears tend to weigh more than their West Coast relatives. Adult males typically average between 125 and 550 pounds, while females weigh between 90 and 275 pounds.

Although black bears are typically passive, people shouldn't approach them. If a person does encounter a bear they should use caution. Anyone spotting the bear should notify the police department at 203-834-6260 so its location can be tracked.