September 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!

Did you know that by state law (CGS 26-15a), 100% of the fees collected from sporting licenses are allocated to conserve and enhance fish and wildlife?

2026 Fall Hunting Seasons

As summer draws to an end, multiple fall hunting seasons are taking place, with two of the more popular seasons, fall archery deer and fall archery turkey, opening today, Tuesday, September 15.

We wish all those participating a successful 2026 season and remember that safety comes first! The best way to stay up to date with hunting season information is to check the 2026 Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide and the 2026-2027 Connecticut Migratory Bird Hunting Guide.

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: The 2025 Connecticut Deer Program Summary is now available on the DEEP website! The document summarizes white-tailed deer information for 2025, including regulations, harvest statistics, research activities, and population dynamics of Connecticut's deer population

More on hunting and trapping . . .

In addition to being a cultural resource, Old New-Gate Prison and Copper Mine is the winter home of several state endangered bat species.

Battier than Ever - Celebrate 10 Years of Bat Appreciation Day

It’s almost time to celebrate Connecticut’s bats and history! Bat Appreciation Day takes place on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM, at the Old New-Gate Prison and Copper Mine in East Granby.

The agenda for the 10th anniversary of Bat Appreciation Day is available on the DEEP website. This year’s event will feature science-based presentations from bat experts, bat crafts and story time for kids, a self-guided mine tour of a bat hibernaculum, a bat house building demonstration, and much more!

More on Bat Appreciation Day . . .

The best approach to managing conflicts with wildlife is preventing them in the first place, and an electric unwelcome mat is an effective way to keep bears from entering barns, porches, and homes.

Wired For Success - The Electric Unwelcome Mat 

An electric unwelcome mat is a portable deterrent that delivers a brief, unpleasant electrical shock to teach black bears to avoid entryways and other areas around buildings.

The Wildlife Division created a short video that walks viewers through the steps on how to build an unwelcome mat to deter bears from entering areas they shouldn’t, such as barns, porches, and homes.

In areas with high bear activity, it is smart to close doors and ground floor windows when you are not home, even if you have screens in place. Screens are not an effective barrier to a curious bear that catches the scent of a kitchen waste bin. 
Incidents involving black bears entering homes have been increasing in recent years, with over 60 documented cases this year, and an electric unwelcome mat can go a long way to reduce human-bear conflict.

More on electric unwelcome mats . . .

Roughly 40 women participated in last month's Women's Shooting Day.

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

Thanks to everyone who participated in last month’s Women's Shooting Day. This annual, introductory event focuses on the basics of firearms safety and marksmanship. Participants have the opportunity to shoot bows and firearms in a structured, closely supervised environment to begin building safe habits and foundational knowledge of shooting sports.
 
The Wildlife Division will continue to build on the excitement of this experience through the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) Program. The goal of this educational initiative is to increase women's participation in outdoor activities, including hunting and shooting sports, and to build community and confidence in the outdoors.

Whether you are new to the outdoors or looking to expand your abilities, BOW offers an encouraging environment to learn, grow, and connect with others who share your interest in nature.

More on the BOW Program . . .

When it comes to adding native plants to your yard to attract pollinators, there are many great options, but which are some of the best at attracting native bees? Read more below to find out!

Planting for Wild Bees in Southern New England

Roughly 398 species of wild bees have been confirmed in Connecticut. Each species is unique in its needs and preferences for nesting habitat and floral resources. Because of this diversity, a one size fits all approach does not work when it comes to helping conserve wild bees.

Staff from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station recently published their findings of a three-year project, in cooperation with the National Resources Conservation Service and the University of Rhode Island, that took a closer look at which species of flowers wild bees prefer in habitat restoration sites in Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Based on the study, Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata), Indian Hemp (Apocynum cannabinum), and several species of asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) attracted the most bee species. If you are looking to add native plants to your yard to help attract wild bees and other pollinators, this resource may be helpful in guiding your decision making.

View the study results . . .

Common mugwort is one of many invasive plant species that can be incredibly difficult to manage.

2026 Invasive Plant Symposium

The Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group's 2026 symposium From Awareness to Action - Strengthening Our Response to Invasive Plants will be held at the UConn Student Union at 2100 Hillside Road in Storrs, Connecticut on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.

The event features presentations of science-based research that includes a variety of techniques for management of terrestrial and aquatic invasives, as well as restoration with native alternatives. The symposium will be recorded and made available after the event. Attendees can choose to attend in-person or purchase the recording. CEUs for organizations and Pesticide Recertification Credits are available. Registration is required to attend.

Details on registration . . .

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

• Bat Appreciation Day: Saturday, September 19, 2026, at Old New-Gate Prison and Copper Mine in East Granby, Connecticut.
• Durham Fair: Thursday, September 24 through Sunday, September 27, 2026 in Durham, Connecticut. Find the Wildlife Division tables in the T Barn.
• Horizon Wings 25th Anniversary: Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Horizon Wings (9 Sand Hill Road in Ashford, Connecticut).
• Saukiog Harvest Festival: Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Keney Park (Tower Avenue Entrance—Cricket Field Area) in Hartford, Connecticut. 
• Annual Fall Festival at Auerfarm: Sunday, October 4, 2026, at Auer Farm (158 Auer Farm Road in Bloomfield, Connecticut).

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
Hunting Information
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.