Tourne County Park Closed Due To Large, 'Aggressive' Bear

BOONTON, NJ — Authorities closed Tourne County Park on Tuesday morning because of a large bear. The creature "aggressively" approached visitors on the trail, according to Morris County Park police.

Park authorities are currently working with New Jersey Fish and Game to set a bear trap. State officials classified the bear as Category I, indicating a "threat to public safety."

Category I bears "are euthanized as soon as possible to protect the public or eliminate further damage to agricultural crops or property," according to the Division of Fish & Wildlife. But it was not immediately clear whether authorities would euthanize the bear.

"Due to the accessibility of the location of where the trap has been placed, it is necessary to close the park to guests," park police said on social media.

Authorities are actively patrolling the area and ask the public to stay away from the park until it's safe to re-enter.

They were able to get everyone out of the park safely, according to Park Police Lt. Christopher List.

"All I can say right now is that he acted aggressively toward some visitors," List told Patch.

Tourne County Park is comprised of 561 acres and 10.7 miles of trails in Boonton and Denville.

About Bears

Black bears are the largest land mammal in New Jersey, according to the Division of Fish & Wildlife. The most common issues New Jerseyans face with bears is when they get into garbage, according to the agency. They're attracted to garbage odors, so the division suggests properly securing garbage to prevent bears from becoming a nuisance.

Here's the Division of Fish & Wildlife's list of tips for minimizing encounters with bears:

• Secure trash and eliminate obvious sources of food, such as pet food, easy-to-reach bird feeders or food residue in barbecue grills.
• Use certified bear-resistant garbage containers, if possible. Otherwise, store all garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids and place them along the inside walls of a garage, the basement, a sturdy shed or another secure area where a bear is unlikely to see or smell it.
• Wash garbage containers frequently with a disinfectant solution to remove odors. Put out garbage on collection day, not the night before.
• Avoid feeding birds when bears are active. If you choose to feed birds, do so during daylight hours only and bring feeders indoors at night. Suspend birdfeeders from a free-hanging wire, making sure they are at least 10 feet off the ground and away from branches a bear can climb on to access them. Clean up spilled seeds and shells daily.
• Remove all uneaten food and food bowls used by pets fed outdoors.
• Clean outdoor grills and utensils to remove food and grease residue. Store grills securely.
• Do not place meat or any sweet foods in compost piles.
• Remove fruit or nuts that fall from trees in your yard.
• Install electric fencing to protect crops, beehives and livestock.

Here are the Division of Fish & Wildlife's bear safety tips for encountering one outdoors:

• 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.
• Avoid direct eye contact, which may be perceived by a bear as a challenge. Never run from a bear. Instead, slowly back away.
• 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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