Baby Bear Spotted In Millburn, Township Says

MILLBURN, NJ — Millburn Township officials sent out an email after 12:30 p.m. Tuesday advising residents of two sightings of a baby bear in the area.

"A baby bear was spotted earlier this morning near White Oak Ridge Road and Parsonage Hill Road," the message said. "The baby bear was last seen in the area of Montview Avenue and Lake Road late this morning."

They advised, "Police are monitoring the area and remind residents not to approach any bears and to report any aggressive behavior or sightings to the Police Department immediately."

Wildlife experts have advised that if you see a bear cub, leave it alone. "If a mother bear perceives a threat, "It's not uncommon for the mother bear to leave the area and circle back periodically to check for when she feels the area is secure."

Bear safety tips from the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife can be found here: NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife - Bear Safety Tips (state.nj.us)

Bears were spotted in the Short Hills in May 2020 as well. See photos here.

Bears were spotted this past May and April in Westfield and Cranford, including a sighting of a black bear near Nomahegan Park, a Union County park, in Cranford in April. "Do not approach the area and be mindful of pets," police advised at the time. "Police units will monitor the area and notify NJ Fish and Wildlife as needed."

Last year, Westfield residents event spotted two black bears at once and managed to photograph one prowling near someone's driveway.

What To Do If You See A Bear

The state Department of Environmental Protection, on their "Be Bear Aware" website, says that black bears are the largest mammal in the Garden State, and have been spotted in all 21 counties.They rarely attack, but can be dangerous. If you see a black bear, don't approach it.

In 2014, a black bear killed a Rutgers University student at a nature preserve in New Jersey.

And last year, a black bear attacked an 82-year-old man in his garage in West Milford. The bear was euthanized.

The state website suggests that it's best to avoid leaving food out, if you don't want bears. If you see one, make noise to scare it away. If attacked, don't "play dead"; instead, fight back. To read more about what to do and who to call if you see a bear, click here.

Complaints Double About Black Bears

Last year, the New Jersey Herald reported that the black bear population has doubled in New Jersey, and so have complaints. State officials said that some of the complaints have risen because more people have been at home during the pandemic to witness the bears. Residents have debated how to address the growing population.

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