Discover the Largest Bear Ever Caught in Connecticut

It wasn’t so long ago that bear sightings in Connecticut were an incredibly rare occurrence. Today, the state has a healthy, thriving black bear population, which often comes into contact with its human cohabitants. Although black bears are the smallest of North America’s bear species, they can still grow to an impressive size. Below are instances of bears recently caught or spotted in Connecticut.

The Largest Bear Ever Caught in Connecticut

Size records for black bears in Connecticut are sparse and uncertain due to the species’ recent comeback and the state’s bear hunting ban. This makes it difficult to determine the largest bear ever caught in Connecticut. However, on October 16, 2022, Connecticut’s Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) caught and killed a 250-pound black bear. It had attacked a 10-year-old boy in the town of Morris, leaving him with non-life-threatening injuries. DEEP euthanized the bear in the interest of public safety.

Another incident took place months earlier in Newtown, Connecticut, on May 12, 2022. An off-duty police officer shot and killed a female black bear of undisclosed weight that had become habituated and had caused frequent problems in the past. DEEP found the officer not guilty of any criminal behavior in the shooting. The bear’s two cubs survived the incident.

In addition to these killings, in 2021, the online magazine Field and Stream reported the sighting of a massive black bear likely weighing in excess of 500 pounds. Local Jeff Rines spotted the bruin near his house in northwestern Connecticut in January 2021. The bear had most likely lost weight already during the winter months and could possibly weigh even more in the summer and autumn.

DEEP indicates that Connecticut black bears may reach 550 pounds, though this is not the upper limit for black bears in general. The largest individual on record worldwide weighed 1,100 pounds at the time of death and 902 pounds dressed. A hunter brought it down in the Canadian province of New Brunswick in November 1972. The bear stood 7.9 feet tall on its hind legs.

Black Bear: Types and Appearance

Black bears are the only species of bears in Connecticut. Breeding populations of brown bears (Ursus arctos), including grizzlies (Ursus arctos horribilis), mostly inhabit northwestern Canada as well as Alaska, Montana, Washington, Idaho, and Wyoming. This does not preclude the occasional stray wanderer in other states or regions. The only polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in America live in Alaska.

Black bears in Connecticut are typically black or brownish-black with a tan muzzle. Some individuals may have a white blaze on the chest. Color variations in other regions include brown, cinnamon, blond, greyish-blue, and even white. In Connecticut, male black bears weigh between 250 and 550 pounds. This makes them somewhat larger on average than females, which weigh between 150 and 300 pounds. Adult black bears in the state reach five to six feet in length with tails three to five inches long. Without a clear size comparison, it can be difficult to tell males and females apart.

Black Bear: Habitat

American black bears are unique to North America, with populations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In Connecticut, they prefer deciduous and coniferous forests throughout the state, though they also roam in young forests, fields, swamps, and near streams or wetlands. Local adult males inhabit home ranges of 12 to 60 square miles, while females with cubs remain in much smaller ranges of five to seven square miles. Male ranges typically overlap with those of females, potentially several at a time, for breeding purposes.

Unfortunately, bear ranges in Connecticut often overlap with human property. Local sightings are currently so prevalent that in 2021, the DEEP Wildlife Division received about 8,600 reports of bear sightings in 156 of Connecticut’s 169 towns. Bear sightings are more common in the state’s northwestern region than in any other area.

How Many Black Bears Are There in Connecticut?

DEEP estimates that there are currently as many as 1,200 black bears in Connecticut. This is up from conservative recent estimates estimating a population of 800-1,000. Sadly, the mid-1800s saw the extirpation of black bears from the state. However, abandoned farms in the late 1800s made room for the regrowth of forestland, a vital black bear habitat. The 1980s brought new evidence of a re-established black bear population. Since then, numbers in Connecticut have risen dramatically.

Because black bear populations are increasing across North America, the IUCN lists the species as Least Concern as of 2016. There are approximately 900,000 black bears in the world today, with up to 465,000 in the US alone.

Is It Legal to Hunt Bears in Connecticut?

As of 2022, it is illegal to hunt black bears in Connecticut. Humans may only kill a local black bear in self-defense or to prevent it from killing or harming another person. Additionally, they may trap and kill a bear to prevent it from damaging agricultural land. DEEP also retains the option to kill problem bears to protect the public. The debate continues regarding the legalization of bear hunting in the state.

Are Black Bears Dangerous?

Black bears are predators and are potentially dangerous to humans and other animals. Although they are omnivores with a primarily vegetarian bent, they have been known to kill and eat other animals, including humans. However, fatal attacks are exceptionally rare, with black bears killing less than one person annually across North America.

The main reason bears and people come into conflict is food. Black bears consume up to 5,000 calories a day in spring and summer, which increases dramatically to about 20,000 calories daily in the autumn months. This allows them to pack on fat for the scarce winter season. Because their caloric intake is so high, bears prefer calorie-rich human food over foraging in the wilderness. Keeping human and pet food out of easy reach is the best way to deter black bears from encroaching on your property. Under no circumstances should you ever feed a bear, either directly or indirectly.

Conclusion

Connecticut’s official state website has a number of tips for coexisting safely with black bears. See their guide, The Basics of Living with Black Bears, for advice on how to report a black bear sighting, how to avoid attracting them to your home, and more.

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The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Mark Lee