Bear Sighting In The Oranges; Schools Cancel Outdoor Activities

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A bear was spotted wandering through the Oranges in New Jersey on Monday, prompting nearby school officials to cancel outdoor activities as a precaution, authorities said.

The bear was spotted in South Orange in the area of Thornden Street and Walton Avenue, local police announced Monday morning.

“If encountered do not run, group together and back away slowly facing the bear,” South Orange police advised, adding that New Jersey Fish and Wildlife officials have been contacted.

South Orange residents can report sightings of the bear’s current whereabouts to the South Orange Police Department at 973-763-3000, authorities said.

South Orange-Maplewood school district administrators canceled all outdoor activities – including open lunch at Columbia High School in Maplewood – and outdoor recess at all other schools, NJ Advance Media reported.

South Orange Police Chief Ernesto Morillo told The Village Green that the bear was also seen on Lawrence Street in West Orange shortly after 9 a.m. Police in that town and the Essex County Sheriff’s Office are aware of the bear’s presence, he said.

Essex County has seen its share of bear sightings in the past. In recent years, bear sightings have been reported in Montclair, Verona, Livingston, West Orange, Bloomfield, Irvington, Maplewood, Roseland and Millburn, among other places.

LIVING ALONGSIDE BEARS: WHAT TO KNOW

According to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, black bears are the largest land mammal in New Jersey. They are an integral part of the state's natural heritage and a vital component of healthy ecosystems.

Since the 1980s the Garden State's black bear population has been increasing and expanding its range both southward and eastward from the forested areas of northwestern New Jersey. Within the most densely populated state in the nation, black bears are thriving and there are now confirmed bear sightings in all 21 of New Jersey's counties, the NJDFW states on its website.

"The most common bear problem New Jersey's residents experience is black bears getting into their garbage," state officials say. "Bears are attracted to neighborhoods by garbage odors, so properly securing your garbage is one of the best ways to prevent bears from becoming a nuisance in your community."

NJDEP wildlife experts emphasize that a black bear passing through an area and not causing a specific problem, such as breaking into trash or otherwise trying to access food sources on people's properties or posing a safety threat, should be left alone.

"People should leave the area and allow the bear to continue on its way," officials said. "When frightened, bears may seek refuge by climbing trees. If the bear does go up a tree, clear the area and give the bear time to climb down and escape."

Residents can report bear damage, nuisance behavior or aggressive bears to the Wildlife Control Unit of the DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife at (908) 735-8793. During evenings and weekends, residents should call their local police department or the DEP Hotline at 1-877-WARN-DEP (1-877-927-6337).

According to the NJDEP, black bears have been sighted in all of New Jersey's 21 counties, but the population is densest in the northwestern counties of Sussex, Warren, Passaic and Morris.

BEAR SAFETY TIPS

The NJDEP provides the following tips to help people "minimize their 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 other secure area.
• 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. 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.

What should you do if you run into a black bear? According to the NJDEP:

• Remain calm and never run from a bear. Avoid direct eye contact, which a bear may perceive as a challenge. Back away slowly if a bear utters a series of huffs, makes popping sounds by snapping its jaws or swats the ground. Make sure the bear can easily escape.
• 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. This is usually not a threatening behavior.
• If a bear does not leave the area or advances toward you, make loud noises to scare it away by yelling, using a whistle, banging pots and pans or sounding an air horn. 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 heads. Move to a secure area, such as a vehicle or building.
• If hiking through bear country, always make your presence known by talking loudly or clapping hands.
• 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 on humans are rare. If a black bear does attack, fight back.

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