State probes fatal shooting of bear

NEWTOWN — The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is investigating after a bear was shot and killed in Newtown Thursday.

The mother bear was survived by her cubs. The Newtown Police Department did not say where exactly the incident occurred.

DEEP Wildlife biologists and environmental conservation officers, as well as Newtown officials, are monitoring the situation to assess the health of the surviving bear cubs.

“The DEEP has left the surviving bear cubs in the area as it is their home range, and their familiarity with the area will increase their chance of success,” police said.

DEEP is urging people to leave the baby cubs alone.

“We urge people to avoid feeding the bear cubs, and to give them space to continue learning to forage for natural food sources, free from human interference,” said Will Healey, director of communications for DEEP. “Human interaction or feeding the cubs can greatly reduce their chance of survival and will also diminish their natural fear of people, creating potential future danger for the bears and public safety.”

“To best assist the cubs, monitoring should be left to DEEP and local officials,” Healey added.

As the state's bear population continues to grow, DEEP is reminding residents to take steps to reduce their likelihood of bear encounters.

“The intentional or unintentional feeding of black bears in residential areas dramatically increases the risk of encountering a bear, putting the bear's life in danger,” Healey said.

Police asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact DEEP at 860-424-3011 or through its website, https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP.