In Town Bear Sighting 7/14, Washington St.
Just had kids racing down my driveway. I walked out onto the front porch to check the excitement.
An enormous black bear had come from Valentine St and was walking down the sidewalk toward Grand Ave. The 3 young boys chased it through the back parking lot of the M&T Bank. The bear crossed Grand Avenue and cut through the 2nd block.
Dogs were barking as the bear must have continued on toward Moore st.
Very Big Boy. The kids chasing him had no fear and the bear was calm and just continued at a slightly faster paced walk.
People at Czig Meister had no clue the bear was here... a mere 1/2 block away.
fire251 
A good dayFor perspective.... I saw him wander past the double standing mailboxes. Using a tape measure... he was about 6'6" long and close to 4' tall at the shoulders. Well fed also. lol
I hope the kids stop chasing him/her. Dangerous for the kids. Just leave the bear alone.
positive Chasing a bear can end up getting you nominated for a Darwin award at a young age. Even a kid should know better.
Denis Not the smartest kids! Chasing a bear? If that bear turned around it could have been on them in seconds!
This is what Black Bears can do. Kids are lucky.
http://www.nj.com/passaic-county/index.ssf/2014/09/edison_man_22_found_dead_in_west_milford_after_bear_encounter.html
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/06/20/black-bears-kill-2-in-alaska-including-teen-in-extreme-race.html
https://www.si.com/edge/2017/07/07/kenyan-marathon-runner-escapes-bears-maine
Eddie The Eagle 
Rwj Bears are wild animals. Parents' responsibilities include teaching their children to stay away from any wild animals. Three young boys chasing a large bear could have resulted in serious injury to them or someone else. This is the stupidest thing I've heard this morning but it's still early ...
Kathleen Bird Hopefully people called it in. If bears get comfortable and successful on a scavenging run, they will be back.
Amazing everyone watching the bear and the kids did not think to tell the kids to back off.
strangerdanger 
littlelu He came right through my backyard last night on Plane Street and went through the backyard of a house on Church Street while I was nearby. He didn't seemed interested in anything but moving along. He was enormous! Didn't stop at the birdfeeder; sniffed at it and went on. It was awesome to see him. He didn't make a sound as he walked by. If I hadn't have seen him, I wouldn't have known he was even there! Of course unless he decided to come up to be close and personal with me! LOL
Rudy This bear has been at my friends yard the last three mornings. This is in the area of Monroe Street.
Bernie Be careful. They can knock you down, lean on your ribcage and kill you.
Totally unpredictable.
Call police whenever you see one.
Lili Police don't deal with bears, Lili, the state does. Calling police every time you see a bear is a waste of their time.
Jesse341 
Yankeefan One time I came home and my ex says to me...I had to call 911 there was a bear in our yard! I laughed and said, geeze what a city boy:) Then I asked what the 911 operator said when he called....he said she asked what the bear was doing and he said just walking through the yard. She then replied "oh you must not be from around here" hahahaha
JRT The more development of rural areas the more we are going to see bear. They travel for miles in search of food, now they are seen more in residential areas. It's a shame.
People just need to educate themselves and not be alarmed. Do not run, do not chase or agitate the bear. Just leave him/her be and expect this to happen more often.
They have 3 ÷ babies per year. And we wonder why there are too many in NJ?
Please post the # for us to report sitings.
I live on Church. My BIL filmed the bear going through my front gate into my backyard. Thought he might be moving in to the play house. Too bad I missed him! He was back this week by the Football Field. Thinking he likes it in our nice, family town. The people to call if you see the bear are at the Department of Fish and Wildlife (according to their brochure). The number is 877-927-6337. Your can also try animal control 908-362-6430. If you have one around a lot be sure you keep any food scraps (human or pet) out of your yard. He is here to rummage for food - not to eat people, but they are wild animals and are very unpredictable and could hurt you -- so don't go chasing them.
MomOfBoys 
MB Just keep your trash in till garbage day - and keep it covered - no one is going to do anything about a bear unless it is actually threatening and endangering people -
4catmom Its not so much that the bear is endangering people but the fact is that on Washington , Church St and that area including Grand Ave sooner or later it will get hit by a car and then the cry will be "we should have called Fish and Game sooner" That area is hardly the woods this guy needs. people have a hard enough time crossing these streets.
eapos I guess I'm just curious what Fish and Game does if you call. Do they shoo it into the woods or something?
I would think they would tranquilize the bear, tag it to keep track and relocate the bear.
I saw a bear in my back yard last week. I took a picture and texted it to my wife.
She responded in a panic- DID YOU CALL ANYONE?
So I called her and asked- why would I call anyone?
The bear was just walking through. He doesn't know anything about property lines. He is just doing his thing- nature. Leave em alone.
Josh Years ago when a bear was in a tree at the middle school the police kind of escorted him/her out of the area....It was neat to watch. They had theirs cars at the intersections between Plane St. and Monroe, and Church St. and Monroe.....as the bear walked through the center of the block. They moved up toward the college as the bear continued to walk toward the college. Finally after a few minute break on one of the college aderondack chairs, the bear headed over to Steiger St. and up the mountain.
I guess with the bear in such a residential area they needed to see him on his way...
I don't know if they do that all the time, but on that day, with that bear they did....
It was after school let out for the summer, sometime at the end of June or very beginning of July of 2003.
When my guys were in hope elm they had a cubs playing on the playground equipment - the hope NJSP took pics for the kids and gently shooed them away - the kindergarten named one Nelson and they all drew pictures. It was very cute
Skippy 
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