A proposal on hunting black bears in CT moved forward. Here's what it says.

Yahoo

27-05-2025

After years of unsuccessful attempts to allow black bear hunting in the state, a revised bill has cleared a key hurdle with state lawmakers, possibly making hunting the animals one step closer to reality.
The amended bill, SB 1523, which the Senate passed and sent to the House on a 34-2 vote this month, allows the governor to direct the commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environment Protection to adopt regulations and set parameters to permit a bear hunt in the state.
But according to the bill's language, a hunt may only be allowed only after the governor and DEEP's commissioner find through an assessment by DEEP that 'bear conflicts with people, pets, and livestock in Connecticut have reached a level that poses a public safety threat.'
The bill, which has been added to the state House calendar for a possible vote, would make it lawful to use deadly force to kill a bear if the animal were injuring or killing controlled livestock. The new bill would add to a law passed in 2023 that authorizes certain circumstances to use lethal force against bears and for special hunting permits when a bear is found to be damaging crops.
Under Connecticut law, you can kill a bear in self-defense if you reasonably believe it's about to cause serious harm to you or someone else, or if it's entering a building with people inside, according to officials with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. In addition, a bear may be killed if it is injuring or killing one's pet. But if a bear were shot and killed, it must be reported to DEEP, and law enforcement would investigate each case.
But a provision added to the bill by state Sen. Rick Lopes, a New Britain Democrat who co-chairs the Environment Committee, and Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding, R-Brookfield, now reopens the possibility of a black bear hunting season. If passed, the bill would give the state DEEP the authority to conduct an assessment and prepare it for the governor. According to the provision, the assessment 'must consider factors like bear entries into occupied buildings and bear attacks on people, pets, and livestock.'
According to online records, the House had not acted on the bill as of May 26.
DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes told lawmakers in testimony the state agency supports a regulated bear hunt. She said that the bear population has exploded over the past 10 years and that human-bear interactions have increased, leading to a statewide public safety hazard.
Connecticut is the only state in New England that prohibits the hunting of black bears, the commissioner said in her testimony on the bill.
Why a lawmaker is pushing state to allow bear hunting. CT agency supports 'limited' season.
'Because the frequency and severity of human-bear conflicts have increased significantly over the past decade, DEEP supports this legislation as we believe a regulated bear hunt is a critical and needed addition to the suite of black bear management tools we currently employ to protect the public, reduce human-bear conflicts, and support a healthy and sustainable black bear population,' Dykes said.
'DEEP supports a regulated harvest for two primary reasons: Human-bear conflicts have escalated in frequency and severity over the past decade resulting in elevated risk to the public, and this trend is likely to continue and to affect more Connecticut communities as bear populations increase and expand their range. Non-lethal bear management strategies, such as DEEP's significant investments in public education and outreach, have failed to decrease human-bear conflicts,' she said.
The provision comes amid a rise in conflicts between humans and bears, as the number of bear sightings reached 159 out of the state's 169 towns and cities, according to the 2025 'The State of the Bears,' an annual DEEP publication that tracks their growth.
Thousands of conflicts between humans and black bears are reported each year and are increasing, according to DEEP. Reports of bears entering or breaking into homes occurred 67 times in 16 different municipalities statewide in 2024. While the majority of human and bear conflicts are in the northwest corner, the agency said they are seeing more conflicts in other parts of the state, including Hartford and Fairfield counties. In 2015, there were less than 10 reports of bears entering or breaking into homes.
The yearly report, which was released in March, comes amid renewed interest in a black bear hunting season. DEEP officials said the black bear population remains stable, with between 1,000 and 1,200 bears, and has a high potential for growth due to 'an abundance of suitable habitat and excessive human-related food across their range.'
Hunting an fishing contribute to the state's economy, according to many sources.
But critics of a black bear hunt say that it is unnecessary and cruel. More than a dozen animal rights groups and environmental advocacy organizations submitted testimony to oppose a bear hunt. Critics argue bears that break into homes or become violent are often in residential areas where hunting is already prohibited. Further, they contend, hunting bears in their natural environment will not help resolve human-bear interactions.
'Hunting bears is unnecessary, inhumane, and will not solve the concerns about human-bear interactions,' said Samantha Dynowksi, state director for the Sierra Club, in testimony. 'There is much evidence that a bear hunt will not work to decrease human-bear interactions.'
'The bear that is being killed deep in the woods where hunting occurs is very unlikely to be the same bear in the neighborhood or near houses. People would be unable to hunt a bear near neighborhoods and residential areas as it is extremely dangerous. It is counterproductive to kill bears in their natural habitat exhibiting normal behaviors and teaching their cubs to do the same,' she said.
Stephen Underwood can be reached at [e-mail]