American Black Bears (Ursus americanus) are becoming common sights in towns and on roadways in New Jersey. I have seen black bears in other states that are small almost dog-like, but in northern New Jersey, Black Bears are huge up to 700 or 800 pounds! In 2011, a record-sized American Black Bear was shot in Morris County, New Jersey weighing 830 lbs.
Living in Passaic county for many years, I had never seen a bear. Within days of moving into my new home in West Milford, my dog had a standoff with a huge bear, and my wife called the police. The police responded, “Lady, you live in West Milford, we have bears!” So we learned to live with these large American Black Bears.
American Black Bears are the largest mammals in New Jersey. Since the 1980s, black bears have been seen in all 21 New Jersey counties, expanding their range from the northwest corner of the state to the south and east. New Jersey has a Comprehensive Black Bear Management Policy (CBBMP) which includes a regulated black bear hunt. The hunt was suspended in 2018 to evaluate exclusively nonlethal control measures. Yet, their population and range are growing every year!
“Black bears are part of New Jersey’s natural heritage, and a sustainable population contributes to the health of our larger ecosystem. Overpopulation and dispersal of bears to areas with less supportive natural habitat is a concern for public safety as well as the overall health and sustainability of the species. Given the black bear population and dispersion circumstances affecting New Jersey, a regulated hunt with humane limitations is necessary and appropriate.”
Shawn M. LaTourette, Commissioner of Environmental Protection
In 2022 The bear population in Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren counties is estimated to be 3000 animals. In 2022, bear incidents include: 62 aggressive encounters with humans, 1 human attack, 12 dog attacks, 12 home entries, 15 attempted home entries, 84 instances of property damage exceeding $1,000, and 52 attacks on protected livestock.
Black Bear Safety Tips
Avoiding Black Bears is the safest strategy, first and foremost, make your property unattractive to bears by securing garbage and other potential food sources. The most common problem is bears feeding on garbage. Properly securing your garbage is one of the best ways to prevent bears from looking at your property as a food source.”
“A black bear seen in a residential area should not be considered a problem, as long as it is behaving normally and not posing a threat, However, bears that learn to associate food with people can become habituated to easy sources of food and become a nuisance as they forage for more. So the best thing to do is to not give bears the opportunity to equate you or your property with food.”
NJDEP Commissioner Martin
- DO NOT FEED BEARS!! It is illegal in New Jersey to feed bears with a penalty of up to $1000.
- Secure garbage cans and food refuse. Store all garbage in tightly closed containers where they are unlikely to be seen or smelt.
- Put out garbage on collection day, not the night before.
- Wash garbage containers frequently with a disinfectant solution to remove odors. Put out garbage on collection day, not the night before.
- f you feed pets outside, do so during daylight hours only. Pick up any leftover food and remove bowls after they have finished.
- Clean outdoor grills and utensils thoroughly after each use. Dispose of grease properly.
- Only use bird feeders during daylight hours between December 1st and April 1st. Suspend feeders from a free-hanging wire at least 10 ft off the ground and 10 ft from other branches. Bring feeder indoors at night. Clean up spilled seeds and shells.
- Consider installing electric fencing to protect crops, beehives, and small livestock.
- If you encounter a bear remain calm and do not run. Make sure the bear has an escape route. Avoid direct eye contact, back up slowly and speak with a low, assertive voice.
- Under no circumstances approach a bear with cubs or position yourself between a mother and cubs
- Wash garbage containers frequently with a disinfectant solution to remove odors. Put out garbage on collection day, not the night before.
- Avoid feeding birds when bears are active. If you choose to feed birds, do so during daylight hours only and bring feeders indoors at night. Suspend birdfeeders from a free-hanging wire, making sure they are at least 10 feet off the ground. Clean up spilled seeds and shells daily.
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