SOUTH BRUNSWICK: Wandering bear reported

By Charles W. Kim, Managing Editor
   Several residents and visitors to the township were surprised Monday afternoon to see a black bear roaming around.
   ”I didn’t get a picture because I was pretty shocked,” eyewitness Brandon Morris, 23, of Kendall Park said. “It was a pretty big bear.”
   The bear was spotted three times Monday in the vicinity of Promenade Boulevard, Raymond Road and Route 27, according to police.
   Mr. Morris encountered the bear while taking the jughandle at Promenade Boulevard and Route 1 around 1:30 p.m. while on his way to the Pet Smart store for dog food.
   Mr. Morris said he entered the jughandle and saw the bear sitting in the middle of the road.
   ”After about a minute, it got up and walked toward the woods,” Mr. Morris said.
   The brief incident backed up about five cars in the jughandle waiting for the bear to move, Mr. Morris said.
   Other sightings reported the bear going through backyards of homes off Raymond Road and on the eastern side of Route 27, according to police.
   At Tuesday night’s Township Council meeting, Mayor Frank Gambatese advised residents to leave the bear alone if they come across it.
   ”Stay away from the bear,” Mr. Gambatese said. “Please don’t feed the bear.”
   Black bear sightings are nothing new to the township. A black bear nicknamed “Bob” stalked the Route 1 corridor in Monmouth Junction several years ago and bears have been reported more recently in Monroe and even downtown Princeton last month.
   According to officials, the bears should not be considered a problem passing through residential areas as long as they are acting normally.
   If you encounter a bear remain calm and do not run. Make sure the bear has an escape route. Avoid direct eye contact, back up slowly and speak with a low, assertive voice, officials’ recommend.
   Police also said that attacks from black bears are extremely rare.
   Residents are asked to report bear damage, nuisance behavior or aggressive bears to the Wildlife Control Unit of the Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife at 908-735-8793. Anyone spotting a bear should contact South Brunswick Police at 732-329-4646.