Officials: Black Bear Seen in Eastern New Canaan Late Friday

New Canaan Police are urging some residents on the eastern side of town to keep their dogs inside and remove birdfeeders after a black bear sighting Friday night.

Here’s the black bear spotted around 8 p.m. on June 26, 2015 in the area of Thayer Pond Road. Contributed photo

According to an email from the town and automated voicemail message sent from Director of Emergency Management Mike Handler (sign up here for alerts), residents in the areas of Deer Park, Thayer Pond, Valley Road and all roads in between additionally should put garbage cans inside a garage or shed, and “add ammonia to trash to make it unpalatable.”

“Clean and store grills away after use,” Handler said in a message that went out at about 1 p.m. Saturday.

“Do not allow dogs outside without a leash (especially if they start barking in the early hours of the morning,” he said. “Pet doors should be closed for the evenings.”

Anna Diamantis of Thayer Pond Road said that around 8 p.m. Friday, her son spotted the bear from the family’s kitchen window.

It crossed the yard, paused to sniff a plant and tree, and then crossed into a neighbor’s yard, she said. It isn’t clear whether or why the bear was drawn to the Diamantis family’s property specifically: They never keep trash outside and have no birdfeeders or pets, she said.

The family also hasn’t used its grill in about two weeks, she said.

Diamantis said the word in the neighborhood is that the animal came from the direction of Mariomi Road.

Handler told residents to protect livestock with electric fencing and move into barns at night and to reinforce beehives to prevent them from being knocked over.

New Canaan in recent years has seen two or three black bear sightings per year, including in April on Marvin Ridge Road and last October on Weed Street.

Protect livestock with electric fencing and move into barns at night

Reinforce beehives to prevent them from being knocked over or protect them with electric fencing.

Police are asking anyone who has seen the bear to report it to police at 203-594-3500.