Allyson Halm

Black Bear Sighted in New Canaan As Wildlife Activity Increases [UPDATED]

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[Editor’s Note: As indicated in our captions on the bear photos, we heard from a 12-year-old New Canaan resident who asked us to name the animal ‘George.’ In an email sent Monday, Leo Mikkola-Patel wrote, in part, “I am a twelve year old writing from quarantine and I think that in these crazy times people would appreciate some humor in their lives.” Asked how he chose the name ‘George,’ Leo said it’s his friend’s name.]

Animal Control officials are urging residents to be aware of wildlife following the sighting Sunday morning of a black bear in New Canaan. 

The sighting on Woodridge Circle, the first of the year as spring gets underway in earnest, coincides with a rise in coyote, fox and snapping turtle activity, according to Officer Allyson Halm, head of the New Canaan Police Department Animal Control section. 

New Canaan has seen black bear activity each spring for the past several years. The bear likely was a young male looking for new territory, Halm said. “We know bears love birdseed, so we encourage people, especially this time of year, to bring the birdseed in or have a pulley system to pull it up high,” Halm told NewCanaanite.com.

Allyson Halm

Police Fine Local Woman $408 for Off-Leash Dogs

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New Canaan Police last month assessed more than $400 in fines to a local woman who has been cited repeatedly for allowing her dogs to roam off-leash on public property. The most recent incident occurred on Feb. 8 (a Saturday) at the New Canaan High School track, according to an incident report obtained by NewCanaanite.com through a public records request. Officer Allyson Halm, head of the New Canaan Police Department’s Animal Control section, said in the report that a woman reported the incident to authorities in a voicemail received the following Monday, and that she recognized the dogs as belonging to town resident Amanda Coulon. Coulon “has been issued infractions four times for violating the Town Ordinance in parks throughout town,” Halm said in the report.

Animal 411

Restraining Order Issued for Biting Labradoodle

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Police last month issued a restraining order regarding the future handling of an Orchard Drive dog after the animal bit someone for at least the third time in four years. The Labradoodle, ‘Bodie,’ bit a young girl on the right calf on a Sunday last month, according to an incident report obtained by NewCanaanite.com through a public records request. The girl was bit after she entered the home Feb. 2 with her mother and siblings, and the child  “did not share the incident until they were leaving and back in their vehicle,” according to the incident report of Officer Allyson Halm, head of the New Canaan Police Department’s Animal Control section. The victim’s mother contacted police the following day.

Animal 411

Dog Euthanized After Attack in New Canaan

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A Darien man had his German shepherd dog euthanized last month after the animal got off-property in eastern New Canaan and attacked two dogs walking past, severely injuring one of them. The incident unfolded on Thayer Pond Road on the morning of Friday, Jan. 3, according to a New Canaan Police Department case report obtained by NewCanaanite.com through a public records request. The owners of the two victim dogs—a Cockapoo and Cocker spaniel—also were injured as they tried to protect their own pets from the large black German shepherd named “Crypto,” according to the incident report from Officer Allyson Halm, head of the NCPD Animal Control section. Crypto was about 13 months old, officials said.

Allyson Halm

Animal Control: Delinquent Dog Owners Face $75 Fine

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Saying an usually low number of dogs are registered with the town, police are urging residents to ensure their canines are licensed or risk a citation and fine. Currently, about 2,700 dogs in New Canaan are licensed with the municipality as per state law, according to Officer Allyson Halm, head of the New Canaan Police Department’s Animal Control section. The figure has neared 3,000 in recent years and the difference could be due to move-ins, Halm said. “Everybody should have done this by June,” Halm said, referring to the annual license period. “And my philosophy is that if I can do it, anybody can do it.