As the winter hibernation period finally sets in for black bears, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection reports that there were nearly 4,500 bear sightings in Connecticut last year.  Wildlife Biologist Paul Rego says Litchfield County and the western part of Hartford County had the highest sightings.

These are the number of sightings in the Greater Danbury area:

Bethel: 3

Brookfield: 15

Danbury: 27

Monroe: 38

Newtown: 83

New Fairfield: 19

New Milford: 127

Redding: 41

Ridgefield: 17

Southbury: 135