WALLINGFORD - Robert and Dorothy Hogan were met with a surprise visitor when they turned around in their family room over the weekend. A hairy new neighbor, standing six feet tall, was watching their every move with his nose pressed against the picture window that looks out on the backyard.

The Hogans, of 251 Grieb Road, and several of their neighbors said the visitor - a full-grown black bear weighing an estimated 300 pounds - has been quiet, but active, in the area recently.

"I've seen him just walking in our backyard a few times," said Melissa DePalma, of 281 Grieb Road. "He was actually really cute looking, not that threatening, but we just leave him alone. We are pretty sure he lives down by the water across the street."

Black bear sightings have increased in central and southern Connecticut during the past year, and places like Wallingford have been no exception, according to Wildlife Biologist Paul Rego of the Department of Environmental Protection.

Rego said there has been a pattern in recent years showing a migration of American black bears in the state, with sightings spreading from concentrated areas to towns statewide. And the sightings have increased, he said, leading the department to believe there has been population growth.

Local police departments said sightings have been infrequent over the years, with 11 reports out of Southington and only 5 in Cheshire and 4 in Wallingford since June 1, 2007. The 11 Southington sightings occurred in almost a two-month span as a family of bears became a common nuisance in the Mount Vernon Road and Kensington Road neighborhoods.

"It got to the point where they were regularly looking for bird feeders and other food sources in residential neighborhoods," said Southington Police Sgt. Lowell DePalma. "We haven't had a sighting to report since."

In Wallingford, residents said signs point to the recently discovered bear living in the wooded areas surrounding Spring Lake. Two families on Grieb Road confirmed seeing the bear more than once, and resident Gwen Simmons said the bear was seen in the Williams Road area, on the opposite side of nearby Interstate 91, on Friday evening.

Simmons said the bear looked beautiful, but she reported the sighting so that people could take proper precautions to protect their homes and pets.

Wallingford Police Lt. Marc Mikulski said neighbors may have shared stories, but the department has had only one call in recent weeks, according to records. He said anyone who sees a bear should contact the DEP or police, but acknowledged that with no property damage, many people may not be reporting the bear's presence.

"Unless the bear presents a problem, we try and address sightings by teaching residents how to avoid attracting them," Rego said. "We ask that people report sightings on our (DEP) Web site, but it's common people will ignore it if it's not bothering them, and these bears are not known to attack humans."

Melissa DePalma, of Wallingford, said she awoke to find a deer leg on the front lawn earlier this month, but she and others who have seen the bear said he has not done anything else they would consider dangerous. In fact, those who saw him all described him as "cute" or "beautiful."

Regardless, Rego suggests residents take precautions to protect their families and pets. These include taking pets in at night; not leaving out scavenger attractions such as bird feeders, garbage cans or compost piles; and never leaving pet foods outside.

If you do come into contact with a black bear, Rego warns, do not play dead. That may work well with grizzly bears, he said; black bears are curious, but friendly, by nature. The best way to avoid being attacked is to appear bigger and make loud noises that will scare them away, Rego said.

Sightings by Town

Black bear sightings reported between June 1, 2007 and June 7, 2008:

Simsbury* 136

Southington 11

Cheshire 5

Wallingford 4

Meriden 1

*The highest total for any town in the state.

Source: Connecticut DEP