Bear Sightings Continue, Large Bear Still Loose

The Bernards Township Police reported a third bear sighting this month on Friday, June 18.

At 6:45 p.m., patrol officers responded to a report of a bear in a tree near the intersection of Mine Brook Road and Chapin Lane, according the Lieutenant Edward Reese of the Bernards Police. The bear climbed down from the tree shortly after the police arrived.

Unlike the previous two sightings, the bear was described as being large, weighing approximately 250 pounds. It was last seen walking into a wooded area on the Far Hills side of Mine Brook Road.

On June 3, a Somerville Road resident requested police help in removing a large bear cub from the property. By the time the police arrived a few minutes later, the responders were unable to locate the bear.

As first reported in the Bernardsville News, a second bear spotting occurred near the Ridge Oak Senior Housing complex on Manchester Drive. The residents described the animal as a "small bear." No animals have been captured to date.

Bear Safety Tips

The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife lists several bear facts and safety tips for New Jersey residents.

Among the safety tips when spotting a bear in the wild are:

• Do not get scared and do not run.
• Do not feed the bear.
• Do not go near the black bear.
• Do not look directly into the bear's eyes.
• Make sure the bear can get out of your yard or campground easily if it wants to. Don't stand in front of the escape route!
• Make lots of noise. It could scare the bear away.
• If you are playing with friends, get in a big group. Talk and wave your arms. You will look really big and the bear might leave.

Residents can alert the police to bear's sighting by calling 9-1-1 in emergencies or the Bernards Township Police Department at (908) 766-1122.