Bears In New Jersey No Problem…..As Long As You Look At 1970s Stats
Posted by Tom Remington on August 29, 2008
*Hat tip to reader Jim*
As most of you know I have a tip line where you can send me news tips (no you shouldn’t use this email function to curse me out.). Reader Jim sent me a long list of stories related to recent bear/human encounters/problems in New Jersey. One report states that bear complaints are up 86% from last year.
But never fear, N.J. authorities are still telling residents there’s no problem and that hunting the bears won’t do any good - as they cite figures dating back before 1970.
I wasn’t sure what to do with all of these, so I decided to just give you them pretty much the way I received them.
Jefferson family’s dog kills bear cub
Owner fears losing pooch after 2nd incident this year
Bear chomps on bird feeders in Mullica yard
August 26, 2008 atlantic city press, atlantic city, nj
Bear Caught On Tape Raiding Bird Feeder In Suburban Back Yard
August 25, 2008 (philadelphia tv station
Bears come back for more
And the bears came back the very next
August 26, 2008 bergen record, hackensack, nj
Report of the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife on Black Bear Control Work:
The black bear unit received a total of 386 bear calls from June 21, 2008 to July 20, 2008; this compares with 258 calls from the same time period in 2007.
The black bear unit received 23 Category I calls, 214 Category II calls and 149 Category III calls for the time period June 21, 2008 to July 20, 2008; this compares to 12 Category I calls, 121 Category II calls and 125 Category III calls for the same time period in 2007.
The black bear unit received a total of 1359 calls from January 1, 2008 to July 20, 2008; this compares to 852 calls during the same time period in 2007.
The black bear unit received 116 Category I calls, 760 Category II calls and 483 Category III calls for the time period January 1, 2008 to July 20, 2008; this compares to 63 Category I calls, 442 Category II calls and 347 Category III calls for the same time period in 2007.
Black Bear Breaks Into Closed Garage Through Window In Hampton Township, Sussex County: Wildlife Control Unit personnel received a call on June 24, 2008 from a resident that a black bear had entered a closed garage on two different occasions in Hampton Township, Sussex County. The bear broke through a glass window during the initial entry and returned several days later damaging the garage door. A culvert trap was set for the incident.
Black Bear Enters Closed Garage In Hampton Township, Sussex County: Wildlife Control Unit personnel received a call on June 25, 2008 from a resident that a black bear had broken through a closed garage door in Hampton Township, Sussex County. A culvert trap was set for the incident. On July 10, 2008, an untagged, 174-pound female was captured and destroyed by WSS personnel after being identified as the target animal. The female had three cubs that were large enough to survive on their own.
Black Bear Approaches Resident In Vernon Township, Sussex County: Wildlife Control Unit personnel received a call on June 29, 2008 from a resident in Vernon Township, Sussex County reporting that a bear had approached him at an approximate distance of ten feet while in his yard. The bear walked off into the woods after the caller made attempts to scare the animal away. A trap was declined by the resident for fear of harassment from activists residing in the area.
Black Bears Damage Ornamental Trees In Vernon Township, Sussex County: Wildlife Control Unit personnel received a call on June 30, 2008 from a farmer in Vernon Township, Sussex County reporting that several bears were damaging ornamental trees on his property. A culvert trap was set for the incident.
Black Bear Breaks Into Garage In Hampton Township, Sussex County: Wildlife Control Unit personnel received a call on July 2, 2008 from a resident that a black bear had entered a closed garage in Hampton Township, Sussex County. The bear broke through the garage door and raided a refrigerator that was kept inside. A culvert trap was set for the incident. On July 9, 2008, a previously tagged, 243-pound adult female was captured and destroyed by WSS personnel after being identified as the target animal by the resident. The female had four cubs that were large enough to survive on their own.
Black Bear Breaks Into Catering Truck In West Milford Township, Passaic County: Wildlife Control Unit personnel received a call on July 7, 2008 from a resident in West Milford Township, Passaic County reporting that a black bear had ripped off both doors to his catering truck that was parked at his residence. The resident stated that the bear had been aversively conditioned on two separate occasions by West Milford Police Department for refusing to leave his property and that the vehicle entry was the third incident he had experienced with the bear. A culvert trap was set for the incident.
Black Bear Enters Residence In Hardyston Township, Sussex County: Wildlife Control Unit personnel received a call on July 9, 2008 from a resident in Hardyston Township, Sussex County reporting that a black bear entered her residence through the kitchen window. A culvert trap was set for the incident.
Black Bear Enters Closed Garage In Jefferson Township, Morris County: Wildlife Control Unit personnel received a call on July 9, 2008 from a resident in Jefferson Township, Morris County reporting that a black bear had broken out a garage door panel and entered the garage. The resident did not witness the incident; a culvert trap was set for the incident.
Black Bear Enters Closed Garage In Stillwater Township, Sussex County: Wildlife Control Unit personnel received a call on July 10, 2008 from a resident in Stillwater Township, Sussex County reporting that a black bear had broken into a closed garage door to get at garbage kept inside. The animal was estimated to be approximately 500 pounds with no visible ear tags. A culvert trap was set for the incident.
Black Bear Attempts To Enter Enclosed Porch In West Milford Township, Passaic County: Wildlife Control Unit personnel received a call on July 10, 2008 from a resident in West Milford Township, Passaic County reporting that a black bear attempted to gain entry into an enclosed porch through a window on the front door. The bear was approximately 250 pounds with no visible ear tags. A culvert trap was set for the incident.
Black Bear Approaching Campers At Worthington State Park In Hardwick Township, Warren County: Wildlife Control Unit personnel received a call on July 16, 2008 from Worthington State Park Police that a black bear was approaching people within 10 feet and taking food from picnic tables. A Park Police Officer responded to the call and shot at the bear using a 12-gauge shotgun with a slug at approximately 15 yards. The Officer reported that the bear rolled over at the shot, and then ran off into the woods. The Officer conducted a search of the immediate area, but found no sign of the animal. A culvert trap was set in the location in which the incident took place.
Black Bear Breaks Into Chicken Coop In West Milford Township, Passaic County: Wildlife Control Unit personnel received a call on July 16, 2008 from a resident that a black bear had broken into a chicken coop and killed one chicken. A culvert trap was set for the incident.
Black Bear Attempts To Enter Home In Wantage Township, Sussex County: Wildlife Control Unit personnel received a call on July 17, 2008 from a resident in Wantage Township, Sussex County reporting that a black bear had attempted to enter her home through a basement window. The bear was described to be approximately 200 pounds with no ear tags. A culvert trap was set for the incident. On July 18, 2008, a 235-pound, previously handled adult male bear was captured at the location. The bear was determined to be a non-target capture and released on site.
Black Bear Breaks Into Closed Garage In Fredon Township, Sussex County: Wildlife Control Unit personnel received a call on July 17, 2008 from a resident in Fredon Township, Sussex County reporting that a black bear had broken into a closed garage on three consecutive days. A culvert trap was set for the incident when the resident had initially reported the damage. When the bear returned the following night, the resident (Sparta Township Police Officer) witnessed the animal entering the garage and shot the bear while it was inside with his .45 caliber revolver. The bear retreated through the window and was found the following day approximately 60 yards in the woods. WSS personnel retrieved the 231-pound, untagged adult female.
Black Bear Breaks Into Residence In Vernon Township, Sussex County: Wildlife Control Unit personnel received a call on July 16, 2008 from a resident in Vernon Township, Sussex County reporting that a black bear had pushed open the front door and entered the residence. The 84-year-old woman was sleeping in the adjacent room when she woke to see a bear knocking over the kitchen sink in an effort to get at cookies that were on the kitchen counter. The resident reported that the bear had also discharged a fire extinguisher in the process of climbing up on the counter. A culvert trap was set for the incident.
Black Bear Enters Tents At Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco In Blairstown Township, Warren County: Wildlife Control Unit personnel received a call on July 17, 2008 from the director of Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco in Blairstown Township, Warren County reporting that a black bear was sticking his head inside tents at several campsite locations. The bear was reported to be approximately 200 pounds with no visible ear tags. A culvert trap was set for the incident. On July 21, 2008, a 162-pound, untagged male bear was captured and destroyed by WSS personnel after it was identified as the target animal.
Black Bear Attempts To Enter Enclosed Porch In West Milford Township, Passaic County: Wildlife Control Unit personnel received a call on July 10, 2008 from a resident in West Milford Township, Passaic County reporting that a black bear attempted to gain entry into an enclosed porch through a window on the front door. The bear was approximately 250 pounds with no visible ear tags. A culvert trap was set for the incident. On 7/17/08, WSS personnel captured and euthanized a 252-pound, untagged male bear that was identified as the target animal.
Bear complaints soar
newton herald aug. 14, 2008 newton, nj
Vernon man suffers serious injuries from car accident
newton herald, aug. 22, 2008 newton, nj
So there you have it! There is NOT a bear management problem in New Jersey!
It reminds me of a T-shirt I saw on a man one time that went something like this:
“Drinking Problem?”
No Problem
I drink, I get drunk, I pass out!
No Problem!
Oh, oh! I almost forgot to remind you that it’s your fault. You are the one who decided to live in areas where bears live, so tear down your homes and get out. Never mind there are more bears in these parts of New Jersey than ever before. That’s not the problem!
Hey, if you need a place to go, I’m sure either Liza Jackson or Jon Corzine can find room for you in their homes. I’m sure THEY wouldn’t live where bears live.
Bears never used to live in Trenton did they?
Tom Remington
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The bears were essentially not here when I moved into Sussex county 30 years ago or when my family used to camp there when I was a kid in the 50’s(I unfortunately do not live there now). You hardly saw them in the woods and never saw the bears walking through backyards or breaking into houses. The only two bears I ever saw in High Point in the 50’s were Andy,he was in a cage, and the other was just entering the woods between Saw Mill Lake and Stokes off the road about 100 yards ahead of the car we were in. The population was basically well controlled and not encroaching into human habitat. It wasn’t until the late 80’s that bears started moving into proximity of peoples homes. This was due to the gross mismanagement of the bear population by the NJDEP. Before 1986, I would walk in the woods and never see a bear. After 1986, I never walked in the same woods without seeing a bear each and every time. The bears invaded our environment. We did not invade theirs. Bears are attacking people in NJ now. I have never heard of this prior this NJDEP debacle. One word in NJDEP is “protection”. I guess people don’t count in the Corzine/Jackson equation of “protection”. I have said this before and will keep saying it. It is irresponsible, negligent, pathetic and sick to put a bear’s life before that of a child or any person for that matter.
October 13th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
radio publicity…
On the C- SPAN set Charmaine has been doing media interviews for a couple of decades on the \”shouting shows.\” Debating or interviewing Andrew Dice Clay, Jesse Jackson, Bill Mahr, Chris Matthews, Gloria Steinem, Patricia Ireland, Vanessa Redgrave,…
October 28th, 2008 at 3:17 pm