Bear Cub Spotted Exploring Long Valley Backyard

LONG VALLEY, NJ — A bear cub was spotted in a Long Valley backyard Friday morning, with no sign of the mother.

The cub, spotted by Michael Hollman, can be seen in the woods behind the swing set in the video below. The bear has been seen in the wooded areas near Ann Road, Parkview Road and Rosalyn Drive.

Hollman said the mother bear "ransacked" the family's trash cans the night before, but there have been no sightings of her yet.

Here are some safety tips from the the Division of Fish and Wildlife on how to handle bear encounters:

• Remain calm. Do not run!
• Make the bear aware of your presence by making noise. Leave an escape route for the bear. If the bear does not leave, slowly back away.
• If the bear approaches, stand your ground and be assertive. Make yourself look big by waving your arms. Stay together as a group. Toss rocks or sticks.
• If a black bear attacks, fight back! Do not play dead!
• Never feed a bear. It is Dangerous and Illegal. Fed bears can become habituated and may need to be killed to protect public safety.

Residents can report aggressive bears to local police stations, and DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife at 1-(877)-WARN-DEP

All images and video via the Hollways.

Spot a bear in your area? Send pictures and video to LongValley@patch.com.