"Black Bears with Ginny Apple"

Sunday, January 25 | Hotchkiss Library, Sharon, CT | 4–5 pm

At the Hotchkiss Library, wildlife educator and master wildlife conservationist Ginny Apple offers an accessible, deeply informed look at Connecticut’s black bear population—grounded in fieldwork, long-term observation, and lived experience.

Drawing on two decades spent living beside People’s State Forest in Barkhamsted, Apple traces the natural history of black bears in Connecticut, from habitat and diet to behavior, reproduction, and current research efforts. The talk blends science with practical insight, including bear artifacts and clear, realistic guidance on how residents can coexist safely and responsibly with a growing bear population.

Apple’s path into conservation began at home—documenting bears that frequented her wooded property and sharing field notes and photographs with state biologists—and expanded westward through participation in a grizzly research mission in Montana. Her expertise spans a wide range of species that define Connecticut’s ecosystem, and her civic work includes leadership roles with multiple conservation and environmental organizations across the region.

Presented in person at the library, this one-hour program is well-suited for anyone curious about local wildlife, land stewardship, and how close-to-home ecosystems actually function when humans and animals share the same terrain.