In Litchfield, Connecticut, a homeowner and his dog found themselves in a confrontation with a black bear over the weekend. The incident began when the dog chased the bear, which had been investigating a bird feeder on the homeowner's porch. During the ensuing scuffle, the bear attacked the dog and then bit the 65-year-old homeowner on the hand as he attempted to intervene.

Both the homeowner and the dog received medical attention following the encounter. The man was treated at a local hospital, while the dog was taken to a veterinary hospital. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has not released an update on the dog's condition. The bear retreated into the woods after the incident.

This recent event follows a concerning trend of bear-human interactions in Connecticut. In April, a 74-year-old woman was bitten by a bear while walking her dog in Avon, a suburb of Hartford. Last year saw two separate bear attacks, one of which involved a 10-year-old boy being mauled in his backyard.

The DEEP reported a record 67 instances of bears entering homes in Connecticut in 2022, surpassing the previous record of 45 set in 2020. This increase in human-bear encounters has prompted concerns and calls for greater caution.

Earlier this year, Connecticut lawmakers passed legislation permitting residents to kill a bear if they feel threatened or are protecting themselves, family members, or pets. In the wake of the latest incident, the DEEP has urged residents to exercise caution during outdoor activities, particularly around the July Fourth holiday, and to remove bird feeders from their properties. Bird feeders and trash cans are identified as primary attractants for bears, leading to increased potential for conflict.