Bear Spotted In Ridgewood Thursday: Police

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — A bear was spotted in the village Thursday morning.

Police saw the bear near North Monroe Street and Fairmount Road, authorities.

Students at Willard and Ridge elementary schools were told to stay in their buildings, police said.

The bear moved on to Waldwick shortly before noon, police said.

Glen Rock Police and animal control personnel tranquilized a bear in someone's backyard Sunday. A 148-pound black bear caused a commotion in Ridgewood and Paramus earlier this month.

That bear was spotted twice in Paramus and again in Ridgewood the next day. It climbed up a tree, was shot with two tranquilizer darts and moved to Morris County.

Black bears have been seen throughout Bergen County recently.

A bear was seen in Teaneck Tuesday and there were two sightings in Teaneck last week. One was seen in Ridgewood earlier this month, police there said.

The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife has issued the following bear safety tips:

• Never feed or approach a bear.
• Make a bear aware of your presence by speaking in an assertive voice, singing, clapping your hands, or making other noises.
• Avoid direct eye contact and never run away from a bear. Instead, slowly back away.

If anyone sees a bear in the village they should call at 201-652-3900.

Photos of the bear in Ridgewood Thursday. (Ridgewood Police Department)