A male motorist reported seeing a black bear with tags crossing Cottage Street, near Webb Circle, at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Then a woman reported seeing the bear on her property in the 200-block of Webb Circle at 2:57 p.m. Police said the animal entered her garage, took a bag of sunflower seeds outside, ate it and destroyed an old beehive.
At 5 p.m., a woman living in the 1200-block of Monroe Turnpike (Route 111) reported seeing the bear trying to get to the trash containers against her house.
Officers responded to the call and saw the bear crossing Route 111, heading west, back into the tree line.
The bear was last seen in the 80-block of Old Zoar Road Sunday, at around 5:40 p.m., before being spotted again on Monday, sitting down in the 80-block of Mustang Drive, while eating berries.
Species fact sheets with common cautions were given to all the callers, according to Monroe Animal Control Officer Ed Risko. Site inspections were performed as officers looked for food attractants.
Sighting report forms were completed and forwarded to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
Deer strike on Bagburn
A Sandy Hook man headed north on Bagburn Road in his Subaru Outback Sept. 17 when a deer ran into the driver’s side door, causing damage and shattering the window, according to police.
Douglas Jones, 64, was evaluated by Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service personnel for minor injuries, but refused a trip to a hospital, according to the report.
A wrecker towed the Subaru from the scene and an officer completed a state motor vehicle crash report and a state deer kill incident report form. The incident took place around 6:18 p.m.
The animal’s remains were removed and taken to a wildlife feeding site.
White Doves in the road
Police received two separate reports from residents seeing a pair of white doves sitting in the roadway on Far Horizon Drive on Sept. 12.
Monroe Animal Control Officer Ed Risko said one bird had a banded leg. He said an officer checked the area and could not find the birds, adding no match to missing pet reports was found.
For information on what to do when you find a lost dove, visit the National White Dove Release Society‘s website.
Temperatures drop, bobcat sightings rise
Residents have reported seeing bobcats all summer, and the sightings have not slowed as Monroe enters the fall.
“There will be more bobcat sightings this time of year as animals try to beef up for the winter,” said Animal Control Officer Ed Risko.
Among the recent sightings, a bobcat was seen on Hurd Avenue on Sept. 13, on William Henry Drive on Sept. 14, on Lovers Lane Sept. 17 and on Guinea Road on Sept. 18.
In every case, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Bobcat Project report was updated.
A raccoon roundup
Monroe Animal Control responded to two recent reports of a sick or injured raccoon.
On Sept. 18, a Webb Circle woman reported seeing a large raccoon in her yard, who appeared sick that afternoon. Animal Control Officer Ed Risko said the animal displayed symptoms of rabies.
The raccoon was last seen in the horse paddock, rolling under the fence and falling down a hill, while getting tangled in the undergrowth, according to the report.
An officer searched for the animal, but it could not be found. Risko said there were no exposures and no testing was required, adding the property owner’s dogs and horse are validly vaccinated and licensed.
However, a rabies advisory was issued, recommending veterinary consult, booster rabies vaccinations and a 45 day observation.
On Sept. 16, a woman driving on Cutlers Farm Road around noon reported seeing a raccoon stumbling across the roadway. The animal was last seen heading east toward the tree line.
An officer searched the area, but could not find the animal. A periodic patrol of the area was conducted throughout the day without success, according to the report.
Yes I reside in Easton, CT. My husband and I spotted a mountain lion going through our yard about 6 months ago. We reported it and was told another person also had reported it. We were also told mountain lions are usually not in this area and that is probably was a Bob cat…there is no way this was a Bob cat.