MILLSTONE — Those taking a Sunday drive along Baird Road over Memorial Day weekend likely expected to see horses and possibly some deer, but never suspected coming across a black bear.
Curious onlookers stopped their cars near Conover Road on the afternoon of May 29 to watch and photograph the bear swim in a pond, climb trees, eat leaves and nap, according to Gloria Tomasella, who lives less than a mile from where the bear was seen.
“It was beautiful seeing the bear cooling off and napping in the tree,” Tomasella said. “However, one wouldn’t want to encounter him or her on an evening walk.”
The New Jersey State Police responded to the scene and warned people not to get too close, Tomasella said.
Tomasella, who is also a Millstone Township Middle School science teacher, photographed the bear and sent it to the school due to the close proximity of the sighting to the school property on Baird Road. She also turned the bear sighting into a teaching moment and gave her classes a lesson on bear safety.
“People are very tempted to get close and feed wild animals,” Tomasella said. “It is important not to invade their personal space or make unnecessary gestures or screams, so they do not feel threatened. They are beautiful to observe from a distance, but will attack when threatened. If you respect and not threaten wild animals in their environment, they will also respect you.”
According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), black bears have entered their most active period of the year as they search for food and mates, making encounters with humans in populated areas more likely. To reduce the risk of such encounters, the DEP urges residents to take some simple precautions, such as not feeding bears. Intentionally feeding black bears is illegal in New Jersey and is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 per offense, according to the DEP.
The bear population in New Jersey has grown in recent years, with bears sighted in all 21 counties, and bear-human encounters occurring more frequently. DEP experts offer tips to minimize conflicts with bears at www.njfishandwildlife.com/bearinfo.htm. Some of the tips include using bear-resistant garbage containers, washing garbage containers frequently, removing food bowls after outdoor pets feed, cleaning outdoor grills and installing electric fencing to protect crops, beehives and livestock.
A black bear passing through a residential area should not be considered a problem, as long as it is behaving normally and not posing a threat, according to the DEP. Those who see a bear should remain calm and should not run or make eye contact. The DEP states that those who see a bear should back up slowly and make sure the animal has an escape route. Although black bear attacks are rare, the DEP states that a person should fight back if a bear does attack.
Residents can report bear damage, nuisance behavior or aggressive bears to the Wildlife Control Unit of the DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife at 908-735-8793. During evenings and weekends, residents should call their local police department or the DEP hotline at 877-WARN-DEP.
Photograph of the black bear provided courtesy of Rod Stahley