Bear Sightings in Hillsborough Prompt Officials to Warn Residents

Hillsborough, NJ -- Hillsborough officials are warning residents to be on alert due to recent black bear sightings.

"We have had a couple black bear sightings in our western part of the township," said Douglas Tomson, Hillsborough Committee Member at the April 26 meeting. "Black bears have lived in the romte area of the Sourland Mountain for years. Each year we seem to have more and more encounters, especially during the spring time when they are coming out for food."

One such sighting prompted the Hillsborough Police to send out an alert to residents on March 30, when a "large" black bear was spotted on Longhill Road.

Tomson urged residents to keep garbage cans secured and eliminate access to bird feeders so that bears are not conditioned to associate humans and houses with food.

If you see any bear activity, report it to the Hillsborough Health Department.

Locally there have been other bear sightings such as in Watchung on Tuesday, April 26 and in the Martinsville section of Bridgewater on Sunday, April 24.

• Here is a list of other bear sightings in the area as well.