Multiple Black Bear Sightings on North Wilton Road

Following multiple sightings in town this week, New Canaan Police are reminding residents that bird feeders, compost and garbage cans left out will attract black bears. A black bear was seen on North Wilton Road at about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to Animal Control Officer Allyson Halm, and then two more were seen together on the same road in northeastern New Canaan on Wednesday afternoon. She urged residents to have hazing tools on hand, such as horns that make loud noises, and bear spray. “Knowledge about hazing is important and please do not feed bears,” Halm told NewCanaanite.com. 

She added, “A fed bear is a dead bear.”

Halm’s tips on coexisting with black bears include:

Do not hang bird feeders on porches, decks or patios. Take bird feeders in at dusk.

Animal Control Raises Concerns After Reports of ‘Friendly’ Fox Living Near the Downtown 

Officials say the town has received numerous reports in recent weeks of a “friendly” fox living in the area of Richmond Hill Road and Park Street, raising concerns about too much familiarity with the animal. Officer Allyson Halm, head of the New Canaan Police Department’s Animal Control section, said she’s been told that “the fox shows little fear and has appeared to follow people, even those walking dogs.”

“In the photo the fox appears young, healthy and has good weight to it,” Halm said, referring to the image above. “The concern is that this fox is being fed regularly by someone which would explain the lack of fear towards humans and the weight this fox has. Wild animals that associate humans with food present a risk to all and most likely won’t end well for this fox.”

The town has seen an increasing number of foxes denning and living downtown, with known litters on Maple Street, Harrison Avenue and Lakeview Avenue. A large litter of fox kits born in Lakeview Cemetery made headlines in 2016.