What to Do If You Encounter a Black Bear

Are Black Bears Dangerous? What to Do If You Encounter a Bear

Bear safety in North Jersey and what to do if you encounter a bear: According to the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, New Jersey has a black bear population estimated at more than 3,000, mainly in the northwestern part of the State.

New Jersey has experienced a significant increase in the human population over the past decade. With New Jersey’s black bear and human populations rising, encounters are more likely to occur. From foraging in trash cans to wandering onto residential streets, backyards, parks, and golf courses, bear-human encounters are becoming more common in New Jersey. This presents a potential safety threat to people and can have fatal results for bears.

In recent years, bear sightings have been reported throughout New Jersey, including many suburban towns and even urban areas. A bear attack was reported in Sussex County in 2022, which resulted in a woman being bitten and scratched by a black bear and a pet dog being dragged into the woods and ultimately killed, presumably by the same bear.

Encounters with black bears in Bergen County have increased over the past several years. In fact, in recent years, bears have been spotted in relatively populous sections of Bergen County, including Bogota, Teaneck, Paramus, and New Milford. Whether during a Ramapo Reservation trail walk or while enjoying a backyard cookout, everyone seems to have their own nerve-racking bear story or knows someone who has experienced a too-close-for-comfort encounter with a bear.

Are Black Bears Dangerous?

Are Black Bears Dangerous? What to Do If You Encounter a Bear
Bear sightings have become more widespread in Bergen County over the past few years.

Actual black bear attacks on people are rare, but they can happen. In 2014, a Rutgers University student died after being attacked by a black bear while hiking in West Milford. This was the first deadly black bear attack reported in New Jersey in 150 years. According to the NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife, black bears rarely attack when confronted by humans. They typically limit themselves to making mock charges, emitting blowing noises, and swatting the ground with their forepaws. However, never assume you are safe and take precautions to avoid black bears.

Should a black bear attack, victims have a better chance of surviving by fighting back, according to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. Female black bears do not display the same protectiveness to their cubs as other bears and will seldom attack humans in their vicinity. Most black bear attacks in the United States occur in forested parks, usually near campgrounds, where bears become habituated to human contact and food sources.

Do Black Bears in NJ Hibernate?

Don’t be too surprised if you spot a black bear ambling about during the winter months. So do black bears hibernate? Not exactly.

According to black bear biology and behavior information provided by the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, black bears in New Jersey typically enter a state of winter dormancy called torpor which is different from true hibernation. While in this State, a bear’s heart and respiratory rate slow, and the body temperature drops. Black bears in New Jersey will begin entering dens in the fall. Impregnated females typically enter dens in late October. Males may enter dens as late as December. Black bear dens come in many different forms and settings, including ground nests, hollow trees, rock cavities, and even nestled beneath houses and other buildings. Black bears in New Jersey may leave their dens searching for food on mild winter days.

What to Do if You Encounter a Black Bear

Black bears in North Jersey
If you encounter a black bear, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish & Wildlife recommends following the safety tips explained in this article.

In most cases, black bears tend to be wary of humans and avoid people altogether. However, Ramapo Reservation in Mahwah, New Jersey, was forced to close for an extended time in 2015 due to multiple incidents of aggressive bear behavior.

If you encounter a black bear, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish & Wildlife recommends that you follow the following safety tips:

• Avoid direct eye contact, which a bear may perceive 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 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 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 threatening behavior.

• Black bears will sometimes “bluff charge” when cornered, threatened, or attempting to steal food. This can be very frightening for humans but do your best to 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.

• Immediately notify the DEP’s 24-hour, toll-free hotline at 1-877-WARN DEP (1-877-927-6337)

• Families living in areas with high black bear populations such as Mahwah, Oakland, Ringwood, or Wayne should have a “Bear Plan” for children with whistles, air horns, and an escape route.

• If a bear enters your home, provide it with an escape route by propping all doors open.

• If a black bear does attack, fight back.

• Never feed or approach a bear.

• Try to remain calm.

• Make the bear aware of your presence by speaking assertively, singing, clapping your hands, or making other noises.

• Make sure the bear has an escape route.

Black bears have the potential to be dangerous if they feel threatened or provoked. It’s important to give them space and avoid surprising them. If you encounter a black bear, it’s best to make noise and slowly back away.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Fish and Wildlife, and Division of Parks and Forestry provide helpful information about black bears and living or visiting “Bear Country” in New Jersey. The convenient Be Bear Aware two-page fact sheet provides advice and safety tips for hiking, fishing, and camping in Bear Country and helpful tips on avoiding bears and staying safe if you live in Bear Country.

More info about bear safety in North Jersey.

2024 ad for Montclair Pickleball on mybergen.com

Read about coyotes in Bergen County.