Being very familiar with Canton, Connecticut, and its bear population, I've always figured that residents there are aware of the bears' existence, but they generally manage to co-exist peacefully.
On Tuesday, June 14, 2022, a mama bear in Canton was killed by Connecticut environmental conservation officers. The bear was "euthanized" after it entered more than one local home in search of food.
A news release from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said that one of the reasons why the bear was euthanized was because it displayed no fear of humans.
This bear was a mother who had four baby cubs. The cubs are estimated to be about six months old, and at that age they need the nurturing and care that their mother normally provides.
Logic and compassion tell me that there's always an alternative to shooting and killing any animal or human. If the bear was not afraid of people, that's certainly no reason to kill it.
With all of the resources and capabilities the State of Connecticut has at its disposable, I strongly believe that it could have found a non-lethal solution to the house-entering bear. There are zoos, wildlife refuges and preserves where it could have been moved to.
There are always two sides to every story, and I realize some Canton residents have had very close encounters with their ursine neighbors.
The four bear cubs were captured in a tree, then they were tranquilized. Very unfortunately, one of the cubs did not survive after being tranquilized. The other three cubs have since been relocated to what the State sees as an appropriate, remote location.
It is hoped that in the future, State officials can find a more peaceful and humane way to deal with the animals that also live there. They're just trying to find some food.
Photo by Lum3n
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