Connecticut launches first black bear population survey in a decade

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has launched the state’s first scientific black bear population study in over a decade. Partnering with Mississippi State University’s Carnivore and Population Ecology Lab, researchers are using scent-baited barbed-wire corrals to collect hair samples for genetic analysis.

The collection method utilizes unconventional materials, including raspberry-soaked tampons and doughnut grease, to attract bears. As of August 2026, the team has gathered approximately 850 hair samples from 340 sites spanning from the New York border to the Connecticut River. These samples are sent to Mississippi for forensic-style genetic testing, with results anticipated in spring 2027.

The study comes amid rising human-wildlife conflicts. DEEP estimates there are between 1,000 and 1,200 bears statewide, noting that 2026 has already seen more than 50 reported home entries. Previous studies from 2013–2014 estimated the western Connecticut population at 400 to 450 bears.