FORT LEE, NJ – There has been a black bear sighting in Fort Lee, and police are warning residents to use common sense and avoid it. The bear was seen inside the park on New York Avenue between Lemoine Avenue and Linwood Avenue.
“Please stay away and DO NOT for any reason engage it. Contact the police department if it is acting aggressive,” the Fort Lee Police Department said.
Black Bears typically don’t pose a danger and government officials will not respond to a sighting or remove the bear unless it is showing hostile or aggressive behavior. According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the most common bear problem New Jersey’s residents experience is black bears getting into their garbage.
“Bears are attracted to neighborhoods by garbage odors, so properly securing your garbage is one of the best ways to prevent bears from becoming a nuisance in your community,” the DEP said. “Residents are encouraged to work within their community to make sure all garbage is secured and kept away from bears. For tips on proper garbage management and coexisting with bears, click the link below.”
Black bears are attracted by odors from potential food sources created by people. Carefully controlling these sources of food and associated odors can help prevent black bears from being attracted to people’s property and teach them to associate people with food.
“Some residents may observe black bears using yards as part of their natural travel corridors. The mere presence of a black bear is not considered a problem. Generally, bears tend to be wary of people. It is important not to leave out any food or garbage that may encourage bears to linger in residential areas. One person feeding bears can create a problem bear that may affect the entire neighborhood,” the DEP advises. “Black bears learn very quickly and bears that are fed intentionally or unintentionally by carelessly leaving out food or garbage will associate people with food. Bears will eat almost anything including human food, garbage, pet food, birdseed and small livestock. Once they find an easily accessible food source, like garbage in a housing development, they will lose their wariness of people and may return to the available food source. These bears can become a nuisance or aggressive and may have to be trapped and aversively conditioned or destroyed.”
Residents are advised to keep their distance from the black bear and do not approach it.
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 provided by the NJ DEP.
• Do not feed bears!
• Never feed or approach a bear!
• Remain calm if you encounter a bear. Do not run from it; running may trigger a chase response.
• If you encounter a bear that is feeding, do not approach it and slowly back away. A bear on a food source will
aggressively defend it.
• From a safe distance, 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.
• Pairs or groups of people should stay together and perform these actions as a unit when they encounter a bear; do not
separate and do not move in different directions.
• 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! Aim for the snout and/or eyes. Use anything
at hand: (knife, sticks, rocks, binoculars, backpack or kick the bear.)