Large Black Bear Seen Roaming In Somerset County

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — A large black bear was spotted Thursday morning in Bridgewater Township and Warren Township.

Resident Kaitlin Hagan Kiser said she saw the bear in her yard near Juniper Lane Swim Club around 7:15 a.m. on June 29.

"This is the second bear sighting we’ve had in the woods behind our house but this one was much bigger and easily climbed our 5-foot fence to get into our yard," said Hagan Kiser.

Warren Township resident Kari Malpas Quirós also reported seeing a black bear going after her birdfeeder on Mundy Lane just before 6 a.m. on Thursday.

A bear was also spotted in the Bradley Gardens section near sycamore and then Leghorn Avenue around 11:15 a.m.

It is unclear if this is the same bear making its way through Somerset County.

A black bear was recently spotted in the Bradley Gardens section of the township last week on June 21. Read More: Black Bear Spotted In Bridgewater: Video

Here are some bear safety tips from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection:

• Never feed or approach a bear!
• Remain calm if you encounter a bear. Do not run from it.
• Make the bear aware of your presence by speaking in an assertive voice, singing, clapping your hands, or making other noises.
• Make sure the bear has an escape route.
• If a bear enters your home, provide it with an escape route by propping all doors open.
• To scare the bear away, make loud noises by yelling, banging pots and pans, or using an airhorn. Make yourself look as big as possible by waving your arms. If you are with someone else, stand close together with your arms raised above your head.
• The bear may utter a series of huffs, make popping jaw sounds by snapping its jaws and swat the ground. These are warning signs that you are too close. Slowly back away, avoid direct eye contact, and do not run.
• If a bear stands on its hind legs or moves closer, it may be trying to get a better view or detect scents in the air. It is usually not a threatening behavior.
• Black bears will sometimes "bluff charge" when cornered, threatened, or attempting to steal food. Stand your ground, avoid direct eye contact, then slowly back away and do not run.
• If the bear does not leave, move to a secure area.
• 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).
• Families who live in areas frequented by black bears should have a "Bear Plan" in place for children, with an escape route and planned use of whistles and air horns.
• Black bear attacks are extremely rare. If a black bear does attack, fight back!

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