Selectmen discuss corn-stomping bears

CORNWALL  — Responding to a report of five bears seen trampling a local crop of sweet corn, the Cornwall selectmen agreed to pursue the matter with state officials at their meeting on Tuesday, Sept.19.

“Clearly the exploding population of bears is causing damage in a way that wasn’t a factor until recently,” First Selectman Gordon Ridgway observed.

The bears were sighted at the 80-acre farm of Alan “Buddy” Hurlburt, where 4 or 5 acres are planted in sweet corn. 

“They aren’t necessarily eating the corn,” said Selectman Richard Bramley of the ursine visitors. “They are just trampling it.”

The selectmen learned that state wildlife officers had visited the farm and captured the bears  to tag their ears, but then released them back into the cornfield. When asked about relocation, the officials had indicated that all of the available relocation facilities or areas are now filled.

Photos of the widely trampled rows of corn extending 1,000 feet will be forwarded by the selectmen to state Sen. Craig Miner (R–30), who has expressed interest in the bear population issue.

During the work on the Covered Bridge in West Cornwall, the old floor planks were available to be taken away. Cornwall resident and sculptor Richard Griggs announced that about 60 boards were available; those boards have all been claimed by now.

Recognizing his years of dedicated service to Cornwall, the selectmen noted the planned retirement of Emergency Management Director Terry Burke, slated for the end of October. 

“He did an excellent job,” said Ridgway, noting Burke’s recommendation that his replacement be found within the volunteer fire department. Ridgway recalled that Burke would check in on people during storms, particularly noting his invaluable service during the great 2016 Flat Rocks forest fire.