Experts blame a warm winter and a large population of white-footed mice, which can carry the Lyme disease bacterium and spread it to ticks.
Opponents contend bears are a slow-to-reproduce species and would be susceptible to overhunting. Proponents note how bears are moving into more urban areas and can be costly for the state to handle.
With their numbers on the rise in recent years, several of the animals have reportedly been sighted in Woodbridge during the past few weeks, and three women were attacked by a rabid bobcat in Colchester
Bear hunting currently illegal in the state, but with about 6,700 black bear sightings in 2016 — a 49 percent increase over the previous year, and compared to only about 450 sightings in 2000 —
Preferred proposal would seek expanded authority to acquire up to more than 197,000 acres for the refuge.
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