May 23,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police are reporting that a Black Bear was spotted eating garbage from the garbage can of a Grove Street residence along the PSE&G right of way on the Glen Rock border at 3:30pm. The bear then disappeared into the wooded area that backs up to the Ridgewood sewage treatment plant.
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.
Do not feed bears! 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.
Black bear attacks are extremely rare. If a black bear does attack, fight back!
If you observe the bear please call the Ridgewood Police 201-652-3900.
I always have an airhorn with me. Not.
Sounds a lot like the Huffing and Puffing that goes on at the Village Coucil
Meetings..including people and officials like bears up on back feet looking for their next
juicy opportunity at citizens troughs.
The black bear population in Ridgewood has been growing and at the very same time our public discourse has been undergoing a distasteful coarsening. It may not be possible to determine which came first, but the increase both in unpleasant black bear encounters, and rude members of the public stridently criticizing the actions and opinions of our local leaders, show that the tradition of civility forums should be continued through the transition of governmental officeholders at the Village Council, and into the future. Mother nature is not to be trifled with. Do those of us whose snarling attitude toward vibrance-bringing CBD construction projects and hospital renewal, or who rear back and roar in mindless defense of their children when the school district chooses to implement or continue wise policies that boldly contradict the old-fashioned lessons they are imbibing at home, realize that there are some decisions only a higher governing body should make, and not be second-guessed for their trouble? The black bears we are seeing more often these days are nature’s way if holding up mirrors for the benefit of our uncivil neighbors to see how they look to the rest of us when they rudely crusade in favor of their pet issues.
Sign should read Do not feed the VC..they just want more and more…
10.57. HELLO This is my inner bear talking quite logically..your comment that
civility forums should be continued through the transition of governmental officeholders at the Village Council,?…?.Hello..we voted in a revolutionary election platform change…stalls have to be out cleaned first..then we rebuild…bears and neighborliness on the short list…
WOW 10:57 Really!
“if a bear enters your home….” it is always good to give advice for a situation that is statistically improbable and has so many unknowns no advice can actually be given.
The other advice was actually helpful and I was sure to pass it on to my kids because we do walk along the stream there. However, if a bear enters my home, an equally valid plan to to make some “just right porridge” for it and hope it falls asleep in one of the beds.
12.23 GOOD one..!, a good dash of Jameson’s might slow down that porridged visitor..then run….
I have a big gun,
We need to add bear, deer and wildlife lanes on the streets so the indigenous animal population can have safe access and clear passage within the village.
If a bear enters your home, go for your long gun. The hand gun will only annoy it.
Tell the bear to be civil and he should leave. Thats what our Mayor would do.
The bear was not a bear. It was Gwenn Hauck in a bear suit, growling out the f-word all up and down the right of way.
No more civility forums. Just civility–which will miraculously reappear on July 1.