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As spring arrives, black bears are emerging from their dens, and New Jersey residents are being urged to take precautions to avoid encounters with these large mammals. The Department of Environmental Protection has provided some tips to help residents reduce the likelihood of bear encounters.
One of the most effective ways to avoid attracting bears is to reduce food sources that might draw them in. This includes unsecured trash, pet food left outdoors, dirty outdoor grills, and even bird feeders.
To assist residents, the DEP has launched a pilot program that will provide free bear-resistant trash containers to six municipalities that have seen a high number of bear incidents. These municipalities include Sparta, West Milford, Jefferson, Rockaway, Hardyston, and Hampton.
"Bears have an extremely keen sense of smell. They are actively searching for food as they leave dens. The risk of an unwanted encounter rises if they associate you or your property with food," said NJDEP Fish & Wildlife Assistant Commissioner David Golden. "People can prevent encounters with bears by removing or properly securing any potential food sources such as trash, pet food or bird seed. It is also critically important for people to never feed black bears. Feeding bears is dangerous, illegal and may result in bears becoming aggressive.”
If you do encounter a black bear, it's important to remain calm and avoid running away or making eye contact. Instead, try to scare the bear away by making loud noises.
For more information about black bears in New Jersey, visit the DEP's website. If you encounter a black bear or experience bear damage, you can report it to your local police department or to Fish & Wildlife by calling 1-(877) WARN DEP (1-877-927-6337).