Bear Spotted in the Northern Part of Princeton: Police

Princeton, NJ -- There have been multiple bear sightings in the northern part of town, Princeton Police said on Friday.

The sightings were in the area of Mt. Lucas Road, Route 206 and Cherry Hill Road, according to Lt. Jon Bucchere.

The bear may be a juvenile, about 150 pounds, according to nj.com.

Earlier this week, a resident reported seeing a bear on Herrontown Road, according to Planet Princeton.

Princeton Animal Control Officer Nate Barson provides the following tips on what to do in the event of a bear sighting:

• Secure your trash in bear resistant garbage containers or with tight fitting lids to reduce odors.
• Clean any food scraps from grills porches and decks, and keep meet scraps out of compost piles.
• Pets should not be fed outdoors unless absolutely necessary
• Immediately remove all uneaten food and bowls used by pets fed outdoors (NO food after dark).
• Never hang bird feeders in easy to reach locations (feeders should be at least 10 feet in the air).
• Put out garbage on collection day, not the night before.
• Wash garbage containers with disinfectant to remove odors.
• Secure beehives, livestock, and fruit crops with electric fence.

Residents should report bear damage, nuisance behavior or aggressive bears to the DEP Hotline at 1-877-WARN-DEP (877-927-6337) or their local police department. Additional bear information can be found at http://www.nj.gov/dep/newsrel/2016/16_0028.htm.

The attached image is a Patch file photo, and is not an image of the bear spotted in Princeton recently.