may 29,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Tenafly NJ, The Tenafly Police Department has received two reports that a bear has been sighted on the east side of town near the JCC on East Clinton Avenue, and then shortly thereafter on Leroy Street. Black bears are common in northern New Jersey, and we are likely to receive additional reports as local bears expand their traditional territories in search of food. Bears have an extremely keen sense of smell, and are usually attracted to garbage and other food residue, such as grease on barbeque grills. Please note that black bears are generally not known to be aggressive, and attacks on humans are extremely rare. However, you should be aware of their presence in our area and take precautions if you have small pets or plan to be outdoors. If you encounter a bear while hiking or walking, you should remain calm and slowly back away. Do not run. Avoid direct eye contact and make loud noises by yelling, using a whistle, or banging pots and pans. Make yourself look as big as possible by waving your arms above your head. If you see a bear in your neighborhood, it is not necessary to contact the police department. However, please do report sick, injured, or “nuisance” bears to us for further investigation. The Tenafly Police Department will continue to monitor reports of bear sightings in our area, but it is not our intention to repeat this notification if we receive additional reports. Finally, please visit the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife website for more information about what you can do if you encounter a bear, and what can be done to deter bears from scavenging on your property. Thank you.
