Connecticut’s bear population has exploded over the last four decades. How much do you know about these terrific creatures?

Take this quiz and find out. It’s an entertaining way to learn about bears that live right here in our state!

Score and answers will appear once you’ve completed the quiz. Good luck!

1. What should you do if you see a bear while hiking with your dog?

Nothing. Watch silently and enjoy!

Vocalize and wave your hands.

Take your dog off his leash, turn, and run.

Act natural and continue on with your business. Standing still or running can make the bear think that something is wrong and trigger an attack.

2. Which town in Connecticut had the most bear sightings in 2017?

Avon

Farmington

Brookfield

New Milford

3. How many total bear sightings were reported in Connecticut in 2017?

2000-3000

3000-4000

4000-5000

More than 5000

4. True or False: Bears have always been plentiful in Connecticut.

True

False

5. How many toes do bears have?

Four. Three toes face forward, and one faces backward.

Four. All four face forward.

Five. Four toes face forward, and one faces backward.

Five. All five face forward and create a foot print much like a human’s.

None of the above because bears don’t have toes; they have claws! Jeesh!

6. Are bears herbivores or carnivores?

Mostly carnivores (meat eaters), but they are herbivores (they’ll eat plants) if they get hungry enough.

Mostly herbivores, but they are carnivores if they get hungry enough

Neither. Bears are omnivores, meaning that they’ll eat meats, plants and fruits.

Neither. Bears are called garbi-vores, which literally means ‘garbage eaters’. It refers to their consistent tendency to raid the contents of trash cans and eat everything therein… including paper products!

7. When do bears breed in Connecticut?

Spring (April-May)

Summer (June-July)

Late Summer (August-September)

Fall (October-November)

8. At what time of year are bear cubs born in Connecticut?

November-December

January-February

March-April

May-June

9. Can bear cubs see when they are born?

Newborn cubs weigh approx. 6 oz., and are blind and toothless.

Newborn cubs weigh 2-3 lbs and are blind.

Newborn cubs weigh 4-6 lbs. They can crawl a bit and see short distances.

Newborn cubs weigh approx. 7 lb and are fully functional in as little as three days!

10. You should reduce the chances of bears visiting your backyard because…

Bears that grow accustomed to humans are more likely to have a violent encounter with one.

Bears are terribly destructive. They will wreck bird feeders, garbage cans, gas grills, pet enclosures, gardens and so forth.

Bears that frequent highly populated areas quickly become labeled as ‘nuisance bears’ and are euthanized by animal control officials.

While you like bear visits, your neighbor may not. Bears can wreck properties all around their source of food.

All of the above.

11. What does it mean when I see a bear with a tag in its ear?

Run! That sucka’s dangerous.

It all depends. How many tags does it have? One means that it was caught once for trespassing. Two means that it was caught twice. Two tags often signals a more dangerous bear. I would steer clear.

It depends on what color the tag is. Yellow tags indicate that the bear is timid by nature. Red tags mean that the bear is prone to aggression. Steer clear of both, but be extra cautious with a red-tagged bear.

Report it. Connecticut officials encourage citizens to report bear sightings, regardless of whether the bear is tagged or not.

Report it. It is illegal to tag wild bears. If a bear is tagged, it is probably an escapee from a circus or a sideshow.

12. Can I bring my pet bear to Brookfield Animal Hospital for his yearly shots?

Hell, yeah! We love treating pet bears!

Yes, but only on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening when our bear vet is scheduled to work.

That depends. Is it stuffed?

Ummm…that would be a no.

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Visit the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for more information on Connecticut bears.

Report a bear sighting in Connecticut

Don’t worry, you’re not risking the bear’s life. Reports of sightings help researchers and keep both people and bears safe.

http://www.depdata.ct.gov/wildlife/sighting/bearrpt.htm

Connecticut’s bear population has exploded over the last four decades. How much do you know about these terrific creatures?

Take this quiz and find out. It’s an entertaining way to learn about bears that live right here in our state!

Score and answers will appear once you’ve completed the quiz. Good luck!

Visit the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for more information on Connecticut bears.

Report a bear sighting in Connecticut

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