Bear Makes Afternoon Snack Stop In Butler

BUTLER, NJ — A local bear was spotted stopping for a snack earlier this week in a Butler homes front yard. Other neighbors also reported seeing a bear roaming in the area.

Steve Payton, a Western Ave resident, snapped this picture of a bear eating out of his bird feeder earlier this week. It was the second time on May 23 Payton saw the bear in his yard.

Other Western Ave residents and a Roosevelt Ave resident also saw a bear on Tuesday, including one who said the bear stopped for lunch at her bird feeder. Its not certain if it was the same bear, or just a hungry friend.

As bear season ramps up, the Division of Fish and Wildlife shared safety tips for bear encounters:

• Remain calm. Do not run!
• Make the bear aware of your presence by making noise. Leave an escape route for the bear. If the bear does not leave, slowly back away.
• If the bear approaches, stand your ground and be assertive. Make yourself look big by waving your arms. Stay together as a group. Toss rocks or sticks.
• If a black bear attacks, fight back! Do not play dead!
• Never feed a bear. It is Dangerous and Illegal. Fed bears can become habituated and may need to be killed to protect public safety.

Residents can report aggressive bears to local police stations, and DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife at 1-(877)-WARN-DEP

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Image via Steve Payton