It's Black Bear Season In New Jersey: What You Need To Know

NEW JERSEY — Of all the creatures great and small in the wilds of the New Jersey backcountry, perhaps none inspires the awe, fear, and rancorous misunderstanding of Ursus americanus, the American black bear.

Black bears have clearly staked their claim in the Garden State. The black bear's population has steadily increased over the past 35 years and expanded south and east from the forest-filled areas of northwestern New Jersey.

As of 2017, black bears have been spotted in all 21 counties in New Jersey and almost every town in the Garden State, according to the Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW).

Just take a look at DFW's map showing how the bear population has spread across New Jersey from 1995 to 2014:

The increase in black bear population in New Jersey is linked to a number of factors including increased areas of protected lands, bears leaving Pennsylvania and New York due to their overdensity, and the state's black bears have some of the largest litters and highest reproductive rates in the nation, according to DFW.

With the warmer weather, bears have already begun to come out of their winter hibernation dens in search of food.

On April 23, Cranford Police sent an alert about multiple sightings of a black bear near Nomahegan Park, a Union County park. Read More: Black Bear Spotted In Cranford Near A Union County Park

It may be treated as a spectacle when a bear is spotted in an urban or densely suburban environment in New Jersey, but the reality is that this land was never not home to these majestic creatures, and as human populations continue to grow, sightings inevitably will become more likely.

Most of the black bear sightings in New Jersey can be linked to garbage.

"Bears are attracted to neighborhoods by garbage odors, so properly securing your garbage is one of the best ways to prevent bears from becoming a nuisance in your community, according to the DFW.

Adult male black bears, called boars, range widely in size from 150 pounds to over 600 pounds, but 400 pounds is their roughly average weight. While adult female black bears, called sows, range from 150 pounds to over 400 pounds with an average of 175 pounds, according to the DFW.

Adult black bears are about 3 feet high when on all four paws and can range from 5 feet to 7 feet tall when standing, according to the DFW.

Black bears by nature tend to be wary of people. There has only been one documented bear fatality in New Jersey's history which occurred in September 2014, when a 22-year-old Rutgers University student was attacked and killed in West Milford.

Bears do not want to eat humans; in fact, they eat a largely vegetarian diet. Nonetheless, their strength should be respected and a dose of fear is healthy. The DFW offers the following tips for what to do if you see a black bear:

• Never feed or approach a bear!
• Remain calm if you encounter a bear. Do not run from it.
• Make the bear aware of your presence by speaking in an assertive voice, singing, clapping your hands, or making other noises.
• Make sure the bear has an escape route.
• If a bear enters your home, provide it with an escape route by propping all doors open.
• Avoid direct eye contact, which may be perceived by a bear as a challenge. Never run from a bear. Instead, slowly back away.
• To scare the bear away, make loud noises by yelling, banging pots and pans or using an airhorn. Make yourself look as big as possible by waving your arms. If you are with someone else, stand close together with your arms raised above your head.
• The bear may utter a series of huffs, make popping jaw sounds by snapping its jaws and swat the ground. These are warning signs that you are too close. Slowly back away, avoid direct eye contact and do not run.
• If a bear stands on its hind legs or moves closer, it may be trying to get a better view or detect scents in the air. It is usually not a threatening behavior.
• Black bears will sometimes "bluff charge" when cornered, threatened or attempting to steal food. Stand your ground, avoid direct eye contact, then slowly back away and do not run.
• If the bear does not leave, move to a secure area.
• Report black bear damage or nuisance behavior to the DEP's 24-hour, toll-free hotline at 1-877-WARN DEP (1-877-927-6337).
• Families who live in areas frequented by black bears should have a "Bear Plan" in place for children, with an escape route and planned use of whistles and air horns.
• Black bear attacks are extremely rare. If a black bear does attack, fight back!

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here. Don't miss local and statewide announcements. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.