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January 2026
Wildlife Highlights is published by the Connecticut DEEP Wildlife Division. Please share the newsletter with others to help spread awareness about Connecticut's wildlife!
Black bears can be active year-round. Be sure to manage attractants such as bird seed and trash.
Black Bears Are Not True Hibernators
Bear dens come in all shapes and sizes, including brush piles, downed trees, rock crevices, and occasionally the space under decks and porches. During late fall and winter, Wildlife Division staff offer advice to homeowners on how and when to evict and exclude bears from denning under these structures.
For some Connecticut snowbirds, a bear may den under a deck or porch but be long gone before the homeowners return with the warmer weather.
While denning straight through most of winter is necessary for pregnant and nursing bears, black bears are not true hibernators and can remain active, especially when temperatures are mild and food is available.
It is important to be #BearWise through the winter by properly managing attractants such as bird seed and trash. Come spring, assess outdoor crawl spaces and consider making modifications to exclude bears before next winter.
Report bear sightings . . .
More on bear dens from BearWise . . .
Though populations have recovered substantially, the Bald Eagle remains a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Connecticut due to its profound cultural significance, particularly to Tribal Nations.
Connecticut's Wildlife Action Plan Has Been Approved
The CT DEEP Wildlife Division received word in mid-December 2025 that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has approved Connecticut’s Wildlife Action Plan for 2025-2035!
Wildlife Action Plans are blueprints for the conservation of biodiversity. They identify species of greatest conservation need and the habitats, threats, and actions needed to protect those species. Wildlife Action Plans also enable state fish and wildlife agencies to receive critical funding for wildlife conservation through State and Tribal Wildlife Grants from the federal government.
In Connecticut, funding from State Wildlife Grants has enabled the Wildlife Division to engage in numerous activities to benefit wildlife and their habitats. Among many actions, this work includes pollinator status assessments, surveys for freshwater mussels and dragonflies, habitat improvement for nesting turtles, and the protection of timber rattlesnakes.
Now that the revision and approval of Connecticut’s 2025 Wildlife Action Plan are complete, we are switching gears to focus on implementing the Plan. All organizations and individuals can have a role in implementing the plan, so stay tuned for when we share more about how you can get involved. The best way to do that and also get up to date information related to the Wildlife Action Plan is to subscribe to our quarterly electronic newsletter.
View Connecticut's Wildlife Action Plan . . .
The Virginia rail is a secretive wetland bird that will create numerous "dummy nests" in addition to the one where eggs are actually laid.
CT Bird Atlas Data Released
The DEEP Wildlife Division is pleased to announce an initial data release of the Connecticut (CT) Bird Atlas. These data were collected as part of the second Connecticut Bird Atlas project.
Encompassing four years of data collection and three years of data analysis, the second CT Bird Atlas provides current information on all of Connecticut’s breeding birds and critical details on winter bird distribution statewide.
Having a better understanding of how bird populations have changed over the past three decades since the first CT Bird Atlas was first released (1994) will help inform how we protect birds in the future.
This initial data release is the first of a series, which will culminate in a comprehensive “Birds of Connecticut” website.
The Wildlife Division would like to thank everyone - especially the over 1,000 volunteers - involved in this monumental effort. We look forward to releasing more information in the future!
More on the data release . . .
Each year, over one hundred students from across Connecticut submit their artwork for the chance to be featured on the Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp.
Calling All CT Student Artists!
Connecticut students, kindergarten through grade 12, can support wetland conservation in Connecticut by entering the 2026 Junior Conservation (Duck) Stamp Art Competition.
To enter, all you have to do is create and submit a drawing or painting featuring native waterfowl (ducks or geese). There is no cost, and submissions must be postmarked by March 15, 2026.
This competition is intended to increase conservation awareness among young people. The “Best in Show” winner will have their art featured as the 2027 Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp! The winning submission will also be entered in the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest.
99% of every dollar of each Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp purchased is spent to protect and enhance homes for migratory birds like the American black duck, red-winged blackbird, and great blue heron. The other one percent produces the lovely stamps that come with the $17 investment in our cherished wetlands.
Since its creation in 1993, the Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp Program has contributed and leveraged over $4 MILLION towards wetland protection and restoration in the State!
Details on how to submit . . .
Wildlife Division Habitat Biologist Peter Picone.
Habitat Biologist Recognized
Last month, Wildlife Division Habitat Biologist Peter Picone received the Tom ODell Outstanding District Service Award from the Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District.
Pete was recognized for his long-standing contributions to the Connecticut Envirothon as a steering committee member and for his efforts to promote biodiversity and enhance habitat for wildlife through outreach and education about native plants and invasive plant management.
For several years, Habitat Program staff, led by Pete, have been transforming acres of a field into a biologically diverse meadow at Robbins Swamp Wildlife Management Area in Falls Village, Connecticut.
During the warmer months of the year, the now meadow is teeming with a variety of native plants, including but not limited to wild bergamot, Joe Pye weed, mountain mint, big and little bluestem, and several species of goldenrod and milkweed. This diversity of native plant life is attracting a host of pollinators and providing ample food and shelter for wild turkeys, ruby-throated hummingbirds, northern leopard frogs, and many other species of wildlife.
Join us at Winter Festival 2026 for some quality time on the ice.
Join Us for the 20th Annual Winter Festival
The No Child Left Inside® (NCLI) Program, in partnership with Fish with CARE and the City of Torrington, will be hosting the 20th Annual Winter Festival Event at Burr Pond State Park in Torrington, Connecticut, on Saturday, February 7, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
This event is all about what you can do and see during winter! There will be ice fishing (pending ice thickness and safety), hiking, story times, search and rescue dog demonstrations, ice sculptures, a bonfire with marshmallow roasting, furs and pelts, live animals, and much more. The DEEP Divisions of Wildlife, Forestry, Fisheries, Boating, and State Environmental Conservation Police will be in attendance, along with the White Memorial Conservation Center, the Institute for American Indian Studies, CT State Forest Fire Service, Lutz Children's Museum, and others.
Bring your family and friends and join us for a great day of winter activities and fun!
Upcoming Events:
The Wildlife Division will be participating in the following events in the near future:
- Native Plant Propagation Workshop: Wednesday, February 4, 2026 from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM at Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area. Registration is required. Details will be released on our Facebook page and the DEEP Calendar of Events in the near future.
- 20th Annual Winter Festival: Saturday, February 7, 2026 from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM at Burr Pond State Park. Details on the Winter Festival can be found here.
- Connecticut Fishing & Outdoor Show: March 20-22, 2026. Visit the Wildlife Division's display to learn about Connecticut's wildlife. Details about the show can be found here.
Who We Are
The Wildlife Division is part of the Bureau of Natural Resources within the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). The Bureau is charged with managing the state’s natural resources (particularly fish, wildlife, and forests) through a program of research, management, public education, and regulation. The Wildlife Division is
comprised of several programs that work together to conserve and manage Connecticut's wildlife.
Contact Us
Email: deep.ctwildlife@ct.gov
Phone: 860-424-3011
Wildlife Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEPWildlife
Hunting Information: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEPHunting
Office Directory: https://portal.ct.gov/deep/wildlife/wildlife-division-office-directory
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to complying with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you are seeking a communication aid or service, have limited proficiency in English, wish to file an ADA or Title VI discrimination complaint, or require some other accommodation, including equipment to facilitate virtual participation, please contact the DEEP Office of Diversity and Equity at 860-418-5910 or by email at deep.accommodations@ct.gov. Any person needing an accommodation for hearing impairment may call the State of Connecticut relay number - 711. In order to facilitate efforts to provide an accommodation, please request all accommodations as soon as possible following notice of any agency hearing, meeting, program or event.
