Black Bear Spotted Roaming In Bergen City: Officials

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A yearling black bear has been spotted in this Bergen city, according to authorities.

Sightings have been reported in and around Flat Rock Brook and on Adele Court in Englewood in the past couple of days, city officials said.

So far this year in Bergen, eight sightings have been reported to the state environmental department; this is compared to 28 across all of last year, an activity report said.

In Englewood Tuesday, a bear was seen — in a photo shared by Mayor Michael Wildes — peering into a garbage bin on Cumberland Street, and was seen again that day by Flat Rock Brook nudging what appeared to be a cooler.

"Englewood PD and Health (Department) are aware of the bear roaming... the city," police tweeted Tuesday at about 1:20 p.m. "Please stay away. Notifications are being made."

City residents, including Councilwoman Lisa Wisotsky, reported sightings of the bear, as captured on phone and floodlight cameras. Officials said Monday that the city's animal control is working to find the bear, and asked that residents who see the bear notify police or the local health department.

Englewood Animal Control recommends keeping children and pets away from streets until further advised, and keeping garbage in sheds or garages until the morning of pickup.

Homeowners, Flat Rock Brook said in a post, can create a "bear plan" for children with an "escape route and planned use of whistles and air horns."

"If you see a bear on our trails, please DO NOT stop to take pictures," the nature reserve said. "Slowly back away and notify us immediately."