Bear Seen Attacking Baby Deer In Bergen County Neighborhood, Officials Say

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — After a baby bear was seen attacking a deer in Ramsey on Friday morning, the Office of Emergency Management sent a message on social media about a "possibly aggressive" animal.

"Possibly aggressive bear sighting in the area of Manor Drive," the Ramsey Office of Emergency Management posted on social media just before 9 a.m. on Friday. "Please keep any pets or children inside."

The road runs near Darlington County Park and the local middle school.

But police later said the bear was non-aggressive and was attacking another wild animal, rather than a pet.

Lt. Anthony Fiore told Patch that a homeowner saw a baby bear attacking a baby deer. He said the behavior is natural, but that people should indeed report bear sightings to local police.

"We just ask that people don't approach bears when they're wandering around," Fiore said. "Just call us. But it's kind of normal [behavior]. The homeowner saw it. It was a baby deer."

He added, "The main thing is, this is common this time of year. Do not approach bears that are out and about. Call us if you have any questions."

He said the sighting was around the time of the alert, at approximately 8:40 a.m.

He said residents can call 201-327-2400 to report a sighting.

Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator Glen Karpovich told Patch, "Residents saw the bear eating and tried to scare it off with sticks. As a reminder, do not feed, interact or engage bears. Basically stay away."

The OEM also posted on Tuesday about a bear sighting, saying that bear didn't appear to be aggressive.

While experts say bears usually avoid humans, officials warn people in residential areas because adults, children, and pets in New Jersey and New York have been hurt or killed by bears.

Incidents of aggressive bears have included:

• In May 2024, a bear killed a Chihuahua and injured another dog in Sparta.
• In 2020, a black bear attacked an 82-year-old man in his garage in West Milford. The bear was euthanized.
• In 2014, a black bear killed a Rutgers University student who was hiking at a nature preserve in New Jersey.
• In 2002, a bear took a baby girl out of her stroller in the Catskills and killed her.

READ MORE: Video Shows Bear Family Running Past Bergen County Driveways

Advice From Officials

Officials in Bergen County have given this advice:

• Keep a safe distance.
• Do not approach, follow, or corner the animal.
• Secure garbage, pet food, bird feeders, and other potential food sources.
• Keep pets on a leash and supervise them while outdoors.
• If the bear approaches, remain calm, make yourself appear large, and slowly back away.

The state's "Bear Bear Aware" site suggests that it's best to avoid leaving food out. If you see a bear, make noise to scare it away.

If attacked, don't "play dead"; instead, fight back. To read more about what to do and who to call if you see a bear, click here.

According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, black bears are now found in all the state’s 21 counties.

Last year, Mahwah High School students decided to raise awareness about how to react when a bear appears, trying to educate children and reduce the risks. The students brought their book, "The Adventures of Bergen the Bear," to local schools.

In emergencies, dial 9-1-1.