The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
file photo courtesy of Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Paramus NJ, on Sunday May 23, the Paramus Police reported that residents in the area of Koman Dr and Alden Road spotted a non-aggressive black bear in the area.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Oradell NJ, Oradell PBA reported a bear has been spotted on the New Milford / Oradell border near the County Property (Old Water Company Buildings). Do not approach it if seen and call 911 to report its location. We previously reported a bear was spotted in Hawthorne and Twp of Washington.
Continue reading Black Bears Making the Rounds in North Jersey
file photo by Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife is reminding the public of important safety tips when around black bears.
Never feed a bear. It is dangerous and illegal. Fed bears get used to being around people and may need to be killed to protect public safety.
Follow these tips to minimize encounters with bears:
• Secure trash and eliminate obvious sources of food, such as pet food, easy-to-reach bird feeders, or food residue 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 a garage, the basement, a sturdy shed or other secure area.
Continue reading Important Safety tips when around Black Bears
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.
May 1,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Paramus NJ, yesterday was the first bear sighting of the season, we should expect to see more as bear populations increase. The bear made its initial appearance in Siranni Park, prompting police to caution residents to call 911 if they spot it. Officials claim the bear appears to be male, possibly a yearling, about 200 pounds.
Paramus Police were unable to capture the bear. It was last seen moving north west from the Midland Avenue area.
If you see a bear, you should try to avoid them. However, for the most part, these bears are more afraid of you. Click on this link for some common sense bear tips. Remember if you have a bear in your neighborhood, leave it alone and call 911.
April 30,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, according to NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife Black bears are the largest land mammal in New Jersey. They are an integral part of the state’s natural heritage and a vital component of healthy ecosystems.
Since the 1980s the Garden State’s black bear population has been increasing and expanding its range both southward and eastward from the forested areas of northwestern New Jersey. Within the most densely populated state in the nation, black bears are thriving and there are now confirmed bear sightings in all 21 of New Jersey’s counties.
Division of Fish and Wildlife personnel use an integrated approach to managing New Jersey’s black bear population, fostering coexistence between people and bears.
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. 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. 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 destroy
Remember: Never feed bears! It’s illegal in New Jersey, and it’s dangerous. Anyone who feeds bears could face a penalty of up to $1,000 for each offense.
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).
Councilmen Mike Sendon could not be reached for comment
DECEMBER 4, 2015, 2:48 PM LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2015, 11:38 PM
BY RICHARD COWEN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
The expanded black bear hunt that begins on Monday will cover more ground than ever before with a greater focus on rooting out so-called urban bears that feed off trash cans in suburban areas.
But a battle of wills still rages between hunt advocates and opponents who say that nuisance bears can be managed more humanely with stricter enforcement of garbage-can laws and more public education.
This year, the will of the hunters has an edge, as the state Supreme Court on Friday ruled in favor of allowing the hunt to begin as planned.
Related: Expanded bear hunt to begin next week, include parts of Wayne, Bloomingdale, Pequannock
The new bear hunt rules not only expand the terrain in which hunters can stalk bears, but also allow the state Division of Fish and Wildlife to extend the six-day hunt by four days if hunters don’t reduce the bear population by 20 percent.
The state’s newly adopted black bear management policy expanded the hunting area beyond the traditional boundaries of Route 287 and Route 78, in play since 2003. It opened up more densely populated suburban towns to bear hunting, including the west side of Wayne, Pompton Lakes, Wanaque, Oakland, Pequannock, Lincoln Park and Madison. The bear hunt is spread over eight counties and more than 1,000 square miles, touching as far south as Mercer County.
New Jersey has 3,500 black bears, according to state estimates. Bears have been spotted in all 21 counties.