It’s mating season! Why summer brings more bears into neighborhoods

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Bear sightings are on the rise as mating seasons start to come to an end.

The summertime is primetime for bear activity and mating season plays a large role in this, but the trash by your garage doesn’t make the situation any better.

Reports of bear sightings skyrocket between May and July. This is due in part because bears are looking to mate and cubs are finally out on their own.

Dave Wattles, leader of the Black Bear and Furbearer project, told 22News where there are the most sightings and the reason behind them.

“Anywhere that’s down along the Connecticut border are places where we anticipate we will have a lot of bear encounters,” Wattles explained. “Connecticut does not have a hunting season so there’s no regulation of their bear population so their bear population for the past 30 years has been growing unchecked.”

Wooded areas with lots of green areas like Robinson State Park Park are perfect environments for black bears, but many people have been seeing them in residential areas. It isn’t all uncommon and there are good ways to handle it and there are bad ways to handle it.

Experts say black bears aren’t normally aggressive, so keeping your distance is key to staying safe. This is all too familiar for people like John Dellorusso, who told 22News he sees bears regularly.

“At home, they go right across my lawn and it’s a part of their regular route,” Dellorusso says. “I see them every two or three weeks and they go through my neighbors of into the distance.”

Securing your trash and bringing bird feeders inside during the summer are two key steps to deter bears from your home. Black bears are also very interested in your livestock. So if you have any chickens or small animals, using electric fencing is recommended to keep them safe.

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