BRATTLEBORO, Vt. (AP) - State officials asked for the public’s help Friday in tracking a young tagged bear that has been getting into birdfeeders and garbage cans in southeastern Vermont before it becomes a problem animal.
People who see the bear in their yards were asked to contact the Fish and Wildlife Department and remove items that are attractive to the animal.
“Put away your birdfeeders, secure your garbage, bring in pet food and take in anything else that might attract this or other bears,” said Forrest Hammond of the agency. “If you have chickens or beehives, we recommend putting electric fencing around them to deter bears.”
The bear is a yearling male with a red tag in each ear with the identification code CT 024. It was found denning with its mother under a porch in Connecticut and relocated to another site and given ear tags as part of a wildlife research project.
The bear wandered into Vermont and has been spotted in Brattleboro, Guilford, Dummerston and Marlboro.
People who see the bear are asked to file a report on the department’s website.
The young bear hasn’t caused extensive damage or become aggressive toward people, but the animal could become bolder and more aggressive, officials said.
“At this stage we don’t know if we can influence the bear, but we think it’s worth a try before it becomes a real problem animal,” said state game warden Kelly Price. “We need the public to pitch in and get the bear back on the right track.”
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Online:
Fish and Wildlife Department: www.vtfishandwildlife.com
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