Bill > HB05315

This bill proposes a comprehensive black bear management framework for the state, requiring the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to take several key actions. Specifically, DEEP must conduct an annual study to estimate the state's bear population, growth rate, and carrying capacity (both biological and cultural) across different regions, which will help understand sustainable bear population levels. The bill mandates that DEEP publish regulations to prohibit unintentional bear feeding, which can attract bears to human-populated areas and increase potential conflicts. Additionally, the department must develop public education programs focused on proactive measures to prevent human-bear interactions, helping residents understand how to coexist safely with bears in their environment. Lastly, the bill requires DEEP to establish a regulated hunting season designed to maintain bear populations within the determined carrying capacity for each region, providing a method of population control that balances conservation efforts with human safety concerns. The overall goal is to create a balanced approach that protects both the bear population and human communities by managing bear-human interactions through scientific assessment, education, and limited regulated hunting.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB05315&which_year=2025