A collaboration of the Scoville Memorial Library and the Salisbury Association Land Trust

Connecticut is experiencing a rapid growth in its black bear population.  This talk will describe the history of bears from pre-colonial times through today.  Rego will discuss black bear food habits, reproduction, winter denning and social organization.  He explains strategies to reduce the likelihood of human encounters with bears and some of the consequences of having this large mammal in our state. Current management and research being conducted will be reviewed.  

Paul Rego has been a wildlife biologist with the Wildlife Division of the Department of Environmental Protection for over thirty years.  As furbearer and bear biologist he deals with species ranging from muskrats and raccoons to coyotes and black bears. This work ranges from addressing the conflicts between animals and humans to monitoring the status of uncommon species such as bobcats.  Rego has worked with the habitat and deer programs with the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife. He has a Masters degree in Wildlife Management from the University of Maine at Orono and a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.