By Kevin Coughlin
A bear wandered into a backyard near the Thomas Jefferson School around 10 o’clock this morning, July 2, 2015, reports Morristown Councilwoman Alison Deeb.
Morris Township police said residents have reported a number of bear sightings to them as well.
Deeb said Greg Lombardi was trying to turn into his driveway on Overlook Road, but had to wait for a black bear weighing an estimated at 150- to 170 pounds to cross.
The bruin then walked into the backyard of Lombardi’s neighbor and climbed a tree. Overlook Road is behind the school.
The sighting was reported to police, Deeb said. Like everyone else, bears are finding Morristown an increasingly attractive place to be. A bear loped down South Street in 2011, climbing a tree in from of Rite Aid.
This also is bear breeding season, when older males force young males to find new territory, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection.
And it’s traditionally a lean time, food-wise, for bears. They will eat skunk cabbage and mulberries, acorns and beech nuts from last fall, and any eggs or small animals they can find, the DEP says.
New Jersey’s bear population is estimated at 3,600 animals, and bears have been reported in all 21 counties. To control this population, the DEP is proposing to continue and expand a December bear hunt in northwestern New Jersey, and to create an October hunting season for muzzle-loading guns and archery starting next year.
SAFETY TIPS!
While black bear attacks on humans are extremely rare in New Jersey, a Rutgers student was killed by a bear last fall in West Milford. Here are safety tips from the DEP for encounters with black bears:
Black bears by nature tend to be wary of people. However, if you encounter a black bear in your neighborhood or outdoors while hiking or camping, follow these common-sense safety tips.
- Never feed or approach a bear!
- Remain calm if you encounter a bear. Do not run from it.
- Make the bear aware of your presence by speaking in an assertive voice, singing, clapping your hands, or making other noises.
- Make sure the bear has an escape route.
- If a bear enters your home, provide it with an escape route by propping all doors open.
- Avoid direct eye contact, which may be perceived by a bear as a challenge. Never run from a bear. Instead, slowly back away.
- To scare the bear away, make loud noises by yelling, banging pots and pans or using an airhorn. Make yourself look as big as possible by waving your arms. If you are with someone else, stand close together with your arms raised above your head.
- The bear may utter a series of huffs, make popping jaw sounds by snapping its jaws and swat the ground. These are warning signs that you are too close. Slowly back away, avoid direct eye contact and do not run.
- If a bear stands on its hind legs or moves closer, it may be trying to get a better view or detect scents in the air. It is usually not a threatening behavior.
- Black bears will sometimes “bluff charge” when cornered, threatened or attempting to steal food. Stand your ground, avoid direct eye contact, then slowly back away and do not run.
- If the bear does not leave, move to a secure area.
- Report black bear damage or nuisance behavior to the DEP’s 24-hour, toll-free hotline at 1-877-WARN DEP (1-877-927-6337).
- Families who live in areas frequented by black bears should have a “Bear Plan” in place for children, with an escape route and planned use of whistles and air horns.
- Black bear attacks are extremely rare. If a black bear does attack, fight back!
Feeding bears can bring fines of up to $1,000. The Division of Fish and Wildlife offers these tips to reduce chances of encountering bears:
- Secure your trash and eliminate obvious sources of food, such as pet food on decks, easy-to-reach bird feeders, or food residues left in barbecue grills.
- Use certified bear-resistant garbage containers if possible. Otherwise, store all garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids and place them along the inside walls of your garage, or in the basement, a sturdy shed or other secure area.
- 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.
- Immediately remove all uneaten food and food bowls used by pets fed outdoors.
- Clean outdoor grills and utensils to remove food and grease residue. Store grills securely.
- Do not place meat or any sweet foods in compost piles.
- Remove fruit or nuts that fall from trees in your yard.
- Install electric fencing as an effective way to protect crops, beehives and livestock.
- If you encounter a bear that is standing its ground, 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.
