Crime & Safety
Ridgewood Bear Tranquilized, Being Moved To Western NJ
The 148-pound bear was shot with 2 tranquilizer darts, an animal control representative said.
RIDGEWOOD, NJ — The black bear that caused a commotion in Paramus and Ridgewood for the past two days has been tranquilized, authorities confirmed.
The bear was shot with two tranquilizer darts by state Division of Fish & Wildlife personnel Tuesday after going up a tree behind a Ridgewood house near the high school, said Carol Tyler with TYCO Animal Control. The bear was shot at about 2:30 p.m.
The 148-pound bear was shot with a tranquilizer dart while it was in the tree, said Larry Hajina, a spokesperson with the state Department of Environmental Protection. The bear then jumped onto a garage roof and was shot again before it stopped moving.
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State wildlife personnel are taking the bear to a wildlife preserve in Morris County where they will release it.
The high school was placed on lock down while authorities figured out how to safely capture the bear, 1010 WINS reported.
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The bear climbed up the tree after it ran into Ridgewood from Paramus Tuesday morning and remained there until it was tranquilized.
Ridgewood Police Chief Jacqueline Luthcke did not respond to messages seeking comment Tuesday.
The bear caused commotion in Paramus Monday and Tuesday.
Paramus police sent out two alerts on the bear Tuesday. The second alert, which was sent at 11 a.m., said the bear was headed toward Ridgewood.
Paramus Police received a call about the bear at about 10 a.m. and alerted residents to its presence a short time later. The bear was seen near Paramus Road and Ridgewood Avenue, said Paramus Police Chief Kenneth Ehrenberg.
Ehrenberg said police are watching the bear and seeing where he goes. Representatives from the state Department of Environmental Protection may respond to the area later.
Police chased the bear up a tree Monday morning, and it stayed up there for about 12 hours, coming down shortly after 9 p.m.
We'll have more information on this breaking news story as it becomes available.
WATCH: Bear In Tree Caused Commotion In Paramus Monday
Photo: The black bear that climbed up a tree and stayed there for 12 hours Monday is back. (Courtesy of Police Chief Kenneth Ehrenberg)
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