Bear Sightings More Than Double In NJ; Reports Of Damage Grow

NEW JERSEY — As the weather warms and more New Jerseyans get outdoors, they might see some unexpected guests. In the first five months of the year, black bear encounters around the Garden State more than doubled last year's total within that span, according to environmental officials.

The state tallied 473 sightings and complaints of bears from Jan. 1 through May 21, according to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. The figure includes 374 reports of damage and nuisance, along with 99 sightings. During that period last year, New Jersey counted only 221 encounters, with 168 reports of damage and nuisance and 53 sightings.

The encounters reported this year included one attack on a human, two unprovoked attacks on dogs and 27 incidents involving property damage, according to the state's data. While the majority of reports haven't resulted in violence or damage, the rise in complaints follows concerns from hunting advocates of how Gov. Phil Murphy's cancelation of the state's bear hunt would impact population control.

Murphy said the 2020 hunt would be the last under his administration, suspending the annual hunting period last year. Despite the rise in sightings and reports of attacks, an administration spokesperson told Patch last month that the state wouldn't restore the bear hunt. Read more: NJ Bear Attacks Won't Prompt Gov. Murphy To Restore Hunt

"Last week's black bear attack further emphasized the need for a robust and comprehensive approach to bear management," Bailey Lawrence, the administration's deputy press secretary, told Patch via email. "The Murphy administration continues to support nonlethal bear management strategies that are backed by science and centered around community education and training for local officials.

"In order to further bolster the efficacy of this approach, the Governor's proposed FY 2023 budget maintains additional funding for the expansion of nonlethal bear management strategies."

But the state's data from the bear-activity report shed light on the possibility of dangerous encounters with bears. New Jersey has seen 16 incidents with aggressive bears this year through May 21 after seeing four by that point last year. New Jersey drivers have struck bears 24 times through May 21 after only doing so 12 times by that date in 2021.

The report contains sightings and complaints reported to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. That doesn't include incidents that police handled without DEP assistance.

Out of New Jersey's 473 bear incidents this year, 169 occurred in Sussex County. The area, which had 86 reported bear incidents through May 21 last year, has been the site of some of New Jersey's most prominent incidents involving the creature in 2022.

A bear attacked a woman May 11 in Lafayette while she checked her mail. She was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries to her right arm and buttock, according to a state DEP spokesperson. Environmental officials set a trap for the bear, with plans to euthanize it under state policy. Read more: NJ Woman Attacked By Bear While She Was Getting Mail

Earlier this year, two dogs were killed in January in Sparta, and an 81-year-old woman was injured in a different bear attack in the township.

Outside of Sussex County, bear reports around New Jersey this year have been most common in Warren County (84 incidents) and Morris County (78). Proportionally, bear incidents increased the most in Bergen County — quadrupling from seven reports through May 21 of last year to 28 this year.

Last month, legislators in New Jersey's 24th District — all Republicans — called on Murphy to re-evaluate "his reckless position" to halt the bear hunt.

"Without a responsible hunting policy, the bear population is exploding," said Senator Steven Oroho. "Regretfully, that will mean we will continue to see more dangerous interactions like yesterday's attack. This latest incident was a close call that could have been much worse, and it is inevitable that more residents will encounter dangerous situations if Murphy doesn't re-evaluate his reckless position."