LAMBERTVILLE: Police issue bear warning

By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
   LAMBERTVILLE — The first bear sighting of the year has been reported in the city, and police are advising residents to take precautions to keep themselves and their pets safe.
   The bear is assumed to be a black bear, and it is estimated at about 4 feet tall, according to Lambertville police.
   Residents called police to report seeing the bear at about 4:50 p.m. on July 29 in the area of York Street. They said they saw it walking behind the houses there before it ambled up a steep embankment toward Rosemont Avenue, police said.
   The bear appeared “not that aggressive,” police said, but they are cautioning residents to remember that no matter how non-threatening a bear may appear, it is still a wild animal.
   Bears are “not an overwhelming concern” in Lambertville, but people should take precautions any time a wild animal is sighted in the city, Police Director Bruce Cocuzza said Monday.
   ”You should always be aware,” he said. “People should not create an environment that is conducive to bears coming in and scavenging.”
   Scavenging in garbage is the most common problem related to black bears in New Jersey, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife. Bears are attracted by the odor given off by the trash.
   Precautions include making sure garbage is stored securely in containers rather than just in plastic bags. “Where you store your garbage should be very tightly sealed,” Director Cocuzza said.
   Also, residents “should maybe think twice” about filling their bird feeders while a bear is in the area, he said. Bears can be attracted to the feeders as a food source.
   Bears have been known to injure or kill small animals and pets. “Small pets — keep track of them,” Director Cocuzza said.
   Bears are not commonly found in Lambertville, but they are more common in neighboring rural communities such as West Amwell and Delaware townships, and even in more populous Flemington, according to police.
   Bear sightings have been reported in all 21 of New Jersey’s counties.
   Black bears are not necessarily black in color. They can range in color from brown to black and even cinnamon, according to the Division of Fish and Wildlife.
   Adult black bears can range in height from 5 feet to 7 feet while standing. They have an acute sense of smell and are able to smell a food source from more than two miles away. They also have good hearing. Although they are near-sighted, they possess good night vision.
   For more information on bears in New Jersey, visit the website of the Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife, “Know the Bear Facts,” at www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/bearfacts.htm. Visitors will find a link to tips on how to avoid black bears for homeowners, municipalities, agriculturists and outdoor enthusiasts.
   Bear sightings should be reported to police at 397-3132.
   Bear damage or nuisance behavior can also be reported to the DEP’s free 24-hour hotline, 1-877-WARN-DEP (1-877-927-6337).