'Aggressive' Bear at N.J. State Forest Captured, Euthanized

By Jason Kostenblatt and Daniel Hubbard

The bear suspected of following numerous hikers at a New Jersey State Forest in recent weeks was captured and euthanized Monday, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection announced.

All access points to Ramapo Mountain State Forest remain closed through the end of the week as a precaution resulting from the black bear activity, a statement said, but biologists believe the bear euthanized Monday is the same one described in the previous incidents.

Officials were notified of two encounters people had with the bear Saturday. Three women hikers said they were pursued by a bear and encountered a man with his dog; the four escaped unharmed.

The bear also repeatedly approached and swatted at a man hiking on the park’s Yellow Trail Saturday. The hiker fought the bear off with pepper spray. The bear chased after the man but gave up near a pedestrian bridge that crossed Route 287, officials said.

Two hikers, a 21-year-old and a 7-year-old said they were closely followed by a potentially aggressive black bear in the forest on Sept. 19. Another man said the bear came within 15 feet of him and his dog.

The DEP said that most encounters between people and bears end without incident and remind people to never feed or approach a bear. If encountered by one, people should speak loudly, clap their hands, and make other noises to scare the bear off. People should also make sure the bear has an escape route and not run from the animal.