The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is organizing four regional Bear Management Listening Sessions across Western Connecticut. These facilitated discussions will be focused on bear activity, public safety concerns, and strategies for living safely with bears.  The sessions will take place in Derby, Sharon, Burlington, and West Hartford and are designed to hear directly from residents and local leaders about the issues they are experiencing. Feedback from these sessions will inform the next phase of DEEP’s bear management planning, which includes the creation of a report that will describe the current state of the bear population in Connecticut, public perceptions toward bears, implications of the state’s growing bear population, and various strategies for mitigating bear-related impacts.”

These events are free, and seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The listening sessions are open to anyone who wants to participate. No town residency is required.  Please help us plan ahead by submitting a response to this RSVP form.

DEEP intends to adhere to the following schedule for the Bear Management Listening Sessions:

• Tuesday, December 2 | 6:00 to 7:30 pm – Burlington 
  Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area, 341 Milford St, Burlington, CT 06013 
  
  
• Wednesday, December 3 | 6:00 to 7:30 pm – Sharon  
  Audubon, 325 Cornwall Bridge Rd, Sharon, CT 06069 
  
  
• Thursday, December 4 | 6:00 to 7:30 pm – Derby 
  Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave, Derby, CT 06418 
  
  
• Tuesday, December 16 | 6:00 to 7:30 pm – West Hartford 
  Elmwood Community Center, 1106 New Britain Ave, West Hartford, CT 06110  

This is a listening exercise to better understand public sentiment and lived experiences. Please consider the following goals for the Bear Management Listening Sessions:

• Support constructive ideas that relate to bear management and living safely with bears
• Identify local patterns of concern related to bear behavior and human interactions. 
• Share feedback that supports the next phase of bear management planning, resources, and communication tools. 
• Contribute to a transparent and productive conversation that strengthens DEEP’s engagement with communities across the state.

Any person needing a hearing accommodation may call the State of Connecticut relay number - 711. Requests for accommodations must be made as soon as possible prior to any agency hearing, program or event.