Black Bear Cornered In Fair Lawn Tree Tranquilized, Released

FAIR LAWN, NJ — A black bear made his way through the borough and up a tree before he was tranquilized and released back into the wild.

Police received four calls that a bear was spotted in the borough beginning at 12:30 p.m. at Banta Place, said Lt. Jim Corcoran.

A landscaper on 29th Street reported seeing a bear at 12:44 p.m. following by another sighting at 12:57 p.m. at 1-18 Plaza Road, Corcoran said.

The last call came in at 1:22 p.m.; the caller reported seeing the bear up a tree at 1-22 Banta Place, the lieutenant said.

Tyco Animal Control, the agency the borough contracts with, the borough fire department, and the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) were notified and responded to the scene, Corcoran said.

After officials tried to coax the bear down, the animal was tranquilized and fell out of the tree, said Larry Hajna, a state DEP spokesman.

The 160-pound bear was put into a truck and was in the process of being relocated and released back into the wild, Hajna said.

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Photos: The bear after and before it was tranquilized. Personnel hold a net and wait for the bear to fall from the tree. Courtesy of Fair Lawn Police Department