People in four towns in Bergen County, NJ, are being told to look out for bears, after several recent sightings. The latest was in Tenafly, where police said Thursday that a black bear was spotted in the area of Knickerbocker Rd. and Riveredge Rd.
“The bear was observed by a resident behind their home and by all accounts, the bear was acting normally – doing ‘bear things,'” according to a police statement.
A black bear was spotted right outside a home on Pleasant Ave. in Englewood on Tuesday. No one was hurt and no damage was caused, but the rash of sightings in that area and neighboring towns has people watching carefully.
Ring camera video shared by Englewood’s mayor shows the black bear walking casually down the sidewalk before turning into the driveway of the Pleasant Ave. home early Tuesday morning. “That one just passed through, said ‘hi’ and left,” according to neighbor Raul Sawh.
He lives right across the street, just steps away. If he’d come face-to-face with the dangerous wild animal, “human instinct is to run, get as far away as we can,” Sawh said.
However, that’s the main thing wildlife experts say you should not do.
This black bear was spotted Tuesday in Englewood (Image: Mayor Michael Wildes via Ring camera)
“Clap, make noise, if they growl, growl louder,” explained neighbor Denise Bowman. “Just don’t hide or run.”
Neighbors are arming themselves with knowledge after several bear sightings in two days.
“It’s scary,” says neighbor Seti Tonge.
On Tuesday night, Teaneck police posted a picture of a bear in a tree. The police department said it was aware and monitoring the black bear, spotted near the Teaneck Armory.
On Monday, Cresskill’s mayor posted that a black bear had been spotted near Hillside Ave. and Westervelt Pl. Schools and crossing guards, he said, were notified. And there’ve been even more sightings.
A bear was spotted near the Teaneck Armory, police said Tuesday. (Image: Teaneck Police Dept.)
“There was another bear sighting on Palisade,” Tonge told NBC New York.
Last month, New Jersey’s Dept. of Fish & Wildlife put out an advisory warning that with the onset of spring, black bears are often foraging for food and may wander into neighborhoods in search of an easy meal. Officials urge residents to secure trash cans and to never feed bears.
“It was probably lost, looking for food,” said neighbor Naiche Tonge.
It’s unclear if there is just one bear on the move or multiple bears. Neighbors on Pleasant Ave. sympathize with the animal, even while taking extra precautions to make sure they don’t accidentally run into one.
“I used my cell phone for the flashlight, just to make sure,” Bowman said. “I feel so bad for them cause we’re taking their home away. It’s not their fault, they’re scared.”
Officials warn that intentionally feeding a bear carries a fine of up to $1,000.
