Bear Spotted Near North Caldwell, Cedar Grove On Memorial Day

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A bear was spotted at the border of North Caldwell and Cedar Grove on Memorial Day, authorities said.

According to the North Caldwell Police Department, a black bear was seen near Windridge Drive and Arbor Road.

“This alert has been issued so that specific precautions can be taken,” authorities said.

Police advised:

“In most cases a black bear, if not cornered, will be wary of people. However, black bears that are accompanied with their cubs, presents the need for residents to have a heightened level of awareness.”

North Caldwell police said people should follow several “common sense safety tips” if they encounter a black bear in their neighborhood:

• Never feed or approach a bear
• Remain calm if you encounter a bear
• 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 and never run from a bear,” police said. “Instead, slowly back away. To scare the bear away, make loud noises by yelling, banging pots and pans or using an air horn. 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. Slowly back away, avoid direct eye contact and do not run. If the bear does not leave, move to a secure area.”

People can report black bear damage or nuisance behavior to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s 24-hour, toll-free hotline at 1-877-WARN DEP (1-877-927-6337).

Essex County is no stranger to bears. In recent years, bear sightings have been reported in Montclair, Verona, Livingston, North Caldwell, West Orange, Bloomfield, Irvington, Maplewood and Millburn, among other places.

• See related article: Bear Sighting In Roseland Among First Of Spring In Essex County

According to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, black bears are the largest land mammal in New Jersey. They are an integral part of the state's natural heritage and a vital component of healthy ecosystems.

Since the 1980s the Garden State's black bear population has been increasing and expanding its range both southward and eastward from the forested areas of northwestern New Jersey. Within the most densely populated state in the nation, black bears are thriving and there are now confirmed bear sightings in all 21 of New Jersey's counties, the NJDFW states on its website.

"The most common bear problem New Jersey's residents experience is black bears getting into their garbage," state officials say. "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."

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