September 2025

Wildlife Highlights is published by the Connecticut DEEP Wildlife Division. Please share the newsletter with others to help spread awareness about Connecticut's wildlife!

The Wildlife Division provides hunters with a variety of opportunities to harvest white-tailed deer in Connecticut.

Fall Hunting Seasons Are Upon Us 

As summer draws to an end, multiple fall hunting seasons will soon be taking place, with two of the more popular seasons, fall archery deer and fall archery turkey, opening on Monday, September 15.

We wish all those participating a successful 2025 season, and remember that safety comes first! The best way to stay up to date with hunting season information is to check the 2025 Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide and the 2025-2026 Connecticut Migratory Bird Hunting Guide.

Sunday Hunting: Due to Public Act 25-138, hunting on Sundays on private land with any approved hunting implement opens beginning October 1, 2025. Migratory bird hunting remains closed on Sunday on all land types. Hunting on Sundays will not be allowed within 40 feet of blazed public trails. Beginning October 1, 2025, all legal game species are open to hunting on Sundays on private land, except migratory birds (waterfowl, geese, woodcock, snipe, rails, and crows). Private land archery deer hunters may continue to hunt deer all days of the week during the archery deer season, which begins September 15, 2025. Deer and turkey hunters are required to obtain written permission from landowners to hunt private land. Small game hunters must obtain verbal permission from landowners to hunt private land. Please refer to additional information regarding landowner permission.

Fluorescent Orange: Visitors to public hunting areas are strongly encouraged to wear fluorescent orange to improve their visibility to other users of the land. As always, dogs must be kept on leashes no longer than 7 feet while on DEEP properties, unless the dog is in the act of hunting or training for hunting.

NEW: 2024 Connecticut Deer Program Summary is now available.

More on hunting and trapping . . .

The yellow-banded bumble bee (Bombus terricola) is one of the many species that has greatly benefitted from a meadow restoration effort at Robbins Swamp Wildlife Management Area.

Robbins Swamp Wildlife Management Area - Buzzing With Activity

For several years, Wildlife Division Habitat Program staff have been transforming what was once a 14-acre agricultural field into a biologically diverse meadow at Robbins Swamp Wildlife Management Area in Falls Village, Connecticut. The field is now 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. 
 
Tracy Zarrillo and fellow entomologists with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) have been monitoring Robbins Swamp for pollinators and have made some remarkable observations. In 2022, CAES staff observed the yellow-banded bumble bee (Bombus terricola), an uncommon but important pollinator that is experiencing population decline across its range. Just this summer, CAES staff observed Macropis patellata, a solitary oil-collecting bee that has not been documented in Connecticut since 1918!
 
Habitat projects such as this take time and careful planning to witness the full benefits, and Robbins Swamp is a prime example of the Wildlife Division’s goal to create and maintain high quality habitat for wildlife. This project was made possible thanks to several partners that include the Northwest Sportsman’s Council, Connecticut Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society, and Denise Ciastko of NativearthSeed LLC.

More on the Robbins Swamp restoration effort . . .

Archery is one of the many outdoor activities taught through the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Program.

Connecticut's Expanding Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) Program

Thanks to everyone who participated in the second annual Women's Shooting Day last month!

The Wildlife Division’s R3 (Recruitment, Retention, Reactivation) Coordinator continues to expand Connecticut’s Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) Program, including a 3-day weekend workshop planned for this fall (more details to come). BOW is an educational initiative that provides women with the space and resources to explore, develop, and grow their outdoor skills. 

From hunting and fishing to hiking, camping, outdoor cooking, and more, this program introduces participants to a wide range of activities.

More on the BOW Program . . .

Come fall, hard mast such as acorns are a key food source for black bears.

Black Bears Look to Stock Up on Hard Mast

Over the next several months, black bears will become increasingly active in search of food to build up their fat reserves for the coming winter. Hard mast, especially acorns, are among the top preferred food items. As the weather continues to gradually cool, bears sense the changing of season and may spend up to 20 hours a day looking for food.

This time of year, black bears are focused on finding the most calories for the least amount of work, and they are not picky eaters. Garbage, birdseed, and pet food are easy calorie jackpots for bears. Unprotected livestock, especially chicken coops can be particularly appealing.

Connecticut has an abundance of natural food to support our growing bear population. This fall, assist bears and your community by keeping them from accessing human-associated foods, helping to reduce or eliminate conflicts.

The Basics of Living With Black Bears . . .

The summer fire season is from mid-May to September.

Wildfire Safety Starts With You

As wildfires become a growing concern across the Northeast, Connecticut is stepping up in a big way with advanced response training, public education campaigns, and urgent recruitment of wildfire professionals and volunteers. The state experienced over 600 wildfires in 2024, burning more than 500 acres.

The spring wildfire season in Connecticut typically occurs from March to mid-May. Wildfires can ignite easily and spread quickly with drier weather and gusty winds, especially when there are longer periods of dry weather and leftover debris from winter. The summer fire season is from mid-May to September. When the woods become dry enough (such as during a prolonged drought) and a fire starts, the fire tends to spread more slowly than a spring fire, but burns deeper into the ground. Fires that burn deeper into the ground burn organic matter in the soil (including tree roots), are more difficult to suppress, and cause extensive mortality to vegetation. Fall fire season, which occurs from October through snow fall, takes on some of the characteristics of both the spring and summer seasons.

Connecticut residents are urged to take simple but critical steps to protect their property and communities from the effects of wildfire.

Forest fire prevention tips . . .

Until the first hard freeze, personal protective measures should be taken to prevent mosquito bites.

Protect Yourself from Mosquito-borne Illnesses

Despite the drier weather Connecticut experienced over the summer, the State Mosquito Management Program is still warning residents about the risk of infection by West Nile virus (WNV) this season. As of early September, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) has detected WNV-infected mosquitoes in 36 Connecticut towns. Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) has not yet been documented in mosquitoes in Connecticut. Positive findings of WNV and EEE in mosquitoes are reported to local health departments and on the CAES website.  

Late summer through early fall is the critical time of the year when virus activity reaches its peak in the mosquito population. Risk of infection from mosquito bites is expected to continue until the first hard frost in October. Connecticut residents are strongly encouraged to take simple steps to prevent mosquito bites.

Frequently Asked Questions about Mosquitoes . . .

Upcoming Events:
The Wildlife Division will be participating in the following events in the near future:

• Saturday, September 13, 2025: National Wild Turkey Federation Workshop for Landowners. The Connecticut Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation is holding a workshop for Connecticut landowners who want to learn how to manage their land to benefit wild turkeys and other wildlife. Location: Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area, 341 Milford Street, Burlington, CT 06013. Time: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM. Registration is required. To register, please select this link.
• Saturday, September 20, 2025: Bat Appreciation Day. This is a free family-oriented day of fun and educational activities that celebrates Connecticut’s bats! Location: Old New-Gate Prison and Copper Mine,115 Newgate Road, East Granby, CT 06026. Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. For more information, please select this link.
• Thursday, September 25, 2025: Wood Turtle Ecology and Conservation. This is a free public presentation that will uncover the hidden world of the wood turtle and highlight the urgent need for conserving this incredible species. Location: Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area: 341 Milford Street, Burlington, CT 06013. Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM. Registration is required. To learn more and register, please select this link. 
• September 25 - 28, 2025: The Durham Fair. The Wildlife Division will be hosting a table and providing multiple presentations at the 105th annual Durham Fair. Find our table in the T Barn. Location: 24 Town House Road, Durham, CT 06422. For more information, please select this link.

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.