Black Bear Sightings Increase as Spring Arrives in Essex County

As bears across the state are emerging from their winter hibernations, social media accounts across Essex County have been buzzing with photos and sightings of the animals across the region.

Bear sightings in the spring have been an increasingly common phenomenon around suburban areas over the past decades, and typically peak in May and June during the animals’ mating season, according to the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife.

“Black bears have been sighted in all 21 New Jersey counties, and bear-human encounters have occurred more frequently in recent years in places outside of traditional bear country, defined as the area west of Interstate 287 and north of Interstate 78,” the agency states on its website.

The DEP estimates that there are 3,600 black bears in northwestern New Jersey.

According to the National Wildlife Federation, since bears are large and strong animals, many people fear them and resent the damage they can cause, a misunderstanding that needs to be corrected.

“The key to successful co-existence between humans and bears is to recognize that it is no longer possible for either species to occupy all habitats but that where co-occupancy is possible and desirable, humans must be responsible for the welfare of the bear population,” the NWF states on their website.

“Wild areas with little human footprint will remain the most important habitat for bears but peaceful co-existence can occur in the urban-wildland interface as long as humans take the necessary steps to assure that the relationship remains a positive one.”

Read about what to do during an encounter with a black bear here.

RECENT BEAR SIGHTINGS

Over the past two weeks, black bears have been spotted throughout the county:

• A bear was spotted in the Millburn-Short Hills area, near the Poets section of Hartshorn Elementary School as well as Deerfield Elementary School. Authorities reported that the bear went into the South Mountain Reservation. [See related Patch article here]
• A pair of black bears made an appearance in North Caldwell around the Harding and Aspen Drive areas. [See related Patch article here]
• State authorities trapped a bear that had climbed into a tree at a Bloomfield cemetery [See related Patch article here]

Photo credit: Jennifer Szewcyk via Twitter

Photo caption: A black bear appears outside of a Caldwell realty office on May 17.