Multiple incidents:
http://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/...e_of_ramapo_mountain_s.html#incart_river_home
Bear encounters force closure of Ramapo Mountain State Forest
By
Justin Zaremba | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
October 06, 2015 at 1:01 PM, updated October 06, 2015 at 1:03 PM
One of New Jersey's estimated 2,500 black bears shown in this NJ Advance Media file photo. (File photo)
Ramapo Mountain State Forest, located in Bergen and Passaic counties, has been closed this week as a precaution due to several recent encounters by a potentially aggressive bear including two over the weekend.
All access points to the 4,200-acre state forest will remain closed at least until the end of the week despite the capture and euthanization of the bear believed responsible for several recent encounters, the state Division of Fish and Wildlife said in a news release.
Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Larry Hajna told NJ Advance Media the 2-year-old female bear that biologists believe was responsible for these encounters was caught and killed on Monday, but numerous traps will remain in place and continue to be monitored by Fish and Wildlife officials.
"There aren't a lot of bears to our knowledge in Ramapo so we feel pretty confident that we trapped the one responsible, but we want to be extremely cautious and keep the traps out there for the time being," he said.
Hajna said the goal was to reopen the forest by the end of the week but "it could be longer."
Fish and Wildlife conservation officers were notified of two different bear-human encounters on Saturday. In the first incident, three female hikers were pursued by a bear, but they were able to escape unharmed after they came upon a male hiker and his dog.
Later in the day, a bear followed another male hiker on the park's Yellow Trail. During that encounter, the hiker reported that the bear repeatedly approached and swatted at him. The hiker fought back with pepper spray but the bear continued to pursue him, only giving up its pursuit near a pedestrian bridge that crosses Route 287. The hiker was not injured and no contact was made with the bear, according to Fish and Wildlife
On Sept. 19, a 21-year-old woman and a 7-year-old boy
were closely followed by a potentially aggressive black bear at the forest off of Skyline Drive in Oakland, which
spurred the setting of a bear trap in the area.
Another park visitor told state officials he, too, came in close proximity to the bear, which stopped about 15 feet from the man and his dog. The bear paced for several minutes before backing away, the man told Fish and Wildlife.
Division of Fish and Wildlife conservation officers, wildlife control officers and State Park police canvassed the park all day Sunday, when the park was first closed. They also set traps and closed a portion of the forest closed to hiking.
"In most cases, encounters between people and bears end without incident," according to the Division of Fish and Wildlife. "However, black bears are wild animals and the Division of Fish and Wildlife reminds the public that it is very important for people who live in or visit New Jersey's bear country to be alert to their presence, especially when hiking."
The Division of Fish and Wildlife recommends the following tips when hiking in bear country:
- Never feed or approach a bear.
- Make your presence on the trail known by speaking loudly, singing, clapping your hands, or making other noises.
- Remain calm if you encounter a bear. Do not run from it. Do not make direct eye contact with the bear, as this may be perceived as a challenge. Slowly back away.
- Make sure the bear has an escape route.
- If the bear continues to follow you or is otherwise undeterred, make loud noises by yelling, blow a whistle, bang pots and pans, or use an air horn, if available. Make yourself look as big as possible by waving your arms. If you are with someone else, stand close together with your arms raised above your head.
- If a bear stands on its hind legs or moves closer, it may be trying to get a better view or detect scents in the air. It is usually not a threatening behavior.
- The bear may utter a series of huffs, make popping jaw sounds by snapping its jaws and swat the ground. These are warning signs that you are too close. Slowly back away, avoid direct eye contact and do not run.
- Black bears will sometimes "bluff charge" when cornered, threatened or attempting to steal food. Stand your ground, avoid direct eye contact, then slowly back away and do not run.
- Black bear attacks are extremely rare. However, if one does attack, fight back. Do not "play dead."
- If you see a bear, in particular one that does not show much fear, immediately contact local police or the Department of Environmental Protection's hotline at (877) 927-6337, or (877) WARN-DEP.