Black Bear Spotted In Chatham Township Thursday: Police

CHATHAM, NJ - A bear was spotted in Chatham Township Thursday morning in the area of Long Hill Lane and Woodland Drive, according to the Chatham Township Police Department.

Police said the visitor is a black bear and appeared to be non-aggressive.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection suggests the following tips for dealing with a black bear safely:

• Do not feed or approach the bear;
• Remain calm, and make the bear aware of your presence by speaking in a calm, assertive voice;
• Make sure the bear has an escape route;
• Yell, bang pots and pans and use an air horn to scare the bear away. Make yourself look as big as possible by waving your arms, and if you are with someone else, stand close together and wave your hands over your heads;
• The bear will warn you that you are too close by making a series of huffs, popping sounds and by snapping its jaws and swatting the ground. In this case, you should slowly back away and avoid making direct eye contact. Don't run;
• If a bear stands on its hind legs and moves closer, it may be trying to get a better view or detect scents in the air. It's usually not a threatening behavior;
• Black bears will sometime bluff that it will charge if it is cornered, threatened or attempting to steal food. Stand your ground, avoid direct eye contact and slowly back away. Don't run; and
• If the bear doesn't leave, head for nearby shelter. Black bear attacks are extremely rare, but if a bear does attack, you should fight back.

Residents who encounter an aggressive bear should call local police or the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Division of Fish and Wildlife at 1-877-WARN DEP.
Click here for more information about what to do if you see a bear.

(Stock photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

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