Why Connecticut’s Wildlife Seems to Be Losing Its Mind Lately

Why Connecticut’s Wildlife Seems to Be Losing Its Mind Lately

Is it just me, or does it seem like the wildlife in Connecticut is bugging the F out right now? You read about bears stealing people’s dry goods, raccoons committing petty crimes in their little bandit masks — it’s just a weird time to be around our furry friends.

It’s like the animals are that one friend who refuses to go to bed after 27 straight hours of partying. We’ve done all the things, had all the drinks, hit all the bars, talked to all the girls, and managed to break a chair in that pizza place. Everyone’s wiped — and this dude’s trying to rally a posse for a 4 a.m. caravan to Montreal for Molson XXX and “some French-Canadian birds.”

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You’ve told him to go to bed 145 times, but the message just isn’t landing. The truth is, he’s probably hungry and a little “randy,” if you catch my drift.

Well, that’s exactly what our animals are going through right now. Oh, you thought we abandoned the metaphor? Nah — I just like to give 23 more examples before making my point. You got it ten minutes ago, and I’m still going. Nah’m sayin’?

Jen the Zookeeper nah's what I'm sayin', and she has the official word on why Connecticut's animals are acting like a drunk college sophomore.

This is what she had to say.

Wildlife Woes: Connecticut's Deer and Bears Are on the Loose (and a Little Rude)

Fall in Connecticut isn’t just about pumpkin spice and pretty leaves — it’s also peak season for deer drama and bear mischief.

Deer Dating Season Is Here
It’s rut season, which means deer are basically out there acting like love-crazed teenagers with zero regard for traffic laws. They’re sprinting across roads at dawn and dusk, chasing each other through yards, and generally forgetting how cars work. Drivers: brake, don’t swerve, and maybe just assume every bush is hiding a deer ready to leap into traffic.

Bears Stealing Pumpkins Like It’s Trick-or-Treat
Meanwhile, black bears are doing their last-minute grocery shopping before winter — in your yard. One injured bear in West Hartford went viral for snatching decorative pumpkins from porches like it was a Costco run. Bears have also been spotted raiding garbage cans, climbing onto porches, and casually strolling through backyards like they own the place.

How to Survive Fall in the Connecticut Wilds
Take down your bird feeders — the bears are watching.
Lock up your trash like it’s gold.
Drive like a deer could bolt out at any second — because it probably will.
And if a bear shows up on your porch? Politely decline its offer to “borrow” your jack-o’-lantern.

Read More: Connecticut Expert Explains the Truth Behind Halloween's Spookiest Animal Myths

Stay safe, stay alert, and maybe keep a camera ready — just in case the next bear wants a selfie.

You might be wondering who that guy was — the one who wouldn’t let the party end. The truth is, when you’re a writer, you’re every character in your stories. The loud one, the quiet one, the one who doesn’t know when to stop. As F. Scott Fitzgerald once said, “Writers aren’t exactly people… they’re a whole bunch of people trying to be one person.”

Meditate on that.

More on Jen the Zookeeper

Jen has spent more than 30 years immersed in the fields of animal care, conservation, and science education. As the former Director of Animal Care for The New Canaan Nature Center in Connecticut, she oversaw the care of native mammals, reptiles, and birds of prey while educating the public about the important roles these wild neighbors play in our ecosystem.

Her experience also includes time with both the Bronx Zoo and the Los Angeles Zoo, where she focused on the care of African and Asian wildlife and helped teach visitors about the delicate balance between humans and natural habitats.

Later, while working at a wildlife sanctuary in Half Moon Bay, California, Jen played a key role in training and handling nearly 50 exotic species. She also developed educational programs for at-risk and foster youth, helping historically underserved kids build trust, confidence, and healing connections with the non-releasable animals at the sanctuary.

In addition to her extensive wildlife work, Jen has experience in horse and dog training, animal control, veterinary care, and all things conservation education. Today, she owns and operates Jen Kotkin Pet Care, where she provides personalized care, exercise, and enrichment for dogs, cats, horses, birds, and more.