Hikers undeterred but locals unnerved by fatal West Milford bear attack
SEPTEMBER 26, 2014, 6:53 PM LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2014, 6:56 PM
BY ALLISON PRIES
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD
Hikers were undeterred Friday, but people who live in bear country were unnerved by a fatal black bear attack earlier this week near a West Milford hiking trail.
Darsh Patel, 22, a Rutgers University student from Edison, was found dead by police in the 576-acre Apshawa Preserve after he and four friends ran from a 4-year-old, 300 pound black bear that was trailing them. Patel’s body was found with bite and claw marks on it. Authorities, who searched two hours for Patel, shot and killed a bear that was found near his body acting aggressively.
“They’re normally so docile,” said Suzie Struble, who has lived across from the Northwood Drive entrance to the Apshawa Preserve for five years. “If you live in West Milford you just know – there are bear here.”
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/hikers-undeterred-but-locals-unnerved-by-fatal-west-milford-bear-attack-1.1097352#sthash.6MtmVJM4.dpuf