Franklin Lakes July 27, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 9 State wildlife biologist reviews black bear facts by Frank J. McMahon A wildlife biologist with the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife recently gave a 90-minute presentation at the Franklin Lakes Municipal Building to explain the facts and myths about the black bear activity in the borough and the status of the population of black bears in northern New Jersey. Biologist Michelle Smith told the 25 to 30 residents who attended the presentation that the black bear population is growing in the state, with increasing activity in northwest Bergen County. Black bears have been sighted in all 21 counties, although the most activity is in the counties of Sussex, Warren, Morris, and Passaic. According to Smith, there are currently an estimated 3,278 black bears in the area north of Route 80 and west of Route 287. She said residents must educate themselves about how to live with that growth in black bear population. She described the reasons for the increase in the black bear population, why bears sometimes become a nuisance, and what residents should do if they are confronted by a bear in search of food. Smith explained that the state will not trap and remove black bears from an area unless there is a serious threat to public safety and, when the state moves a bear, it is only to the nearest forested area -- from which they often return. She said most of the calls her department has received from residents pertain to nuisance issues where a bear is rummaging in garbage cans or dumpsters looking for food that is often inadvertently left outside, or sometimes set outside deliberately to feed the bears. “Deliberately feeding bears is illegal in New Jersey,” Smith emphasized, explaining that the inadvertent or deliberate feeding of the black bears is the primary reason they come to residential areas and become “habituated.” Smith advised that black bears have a life span of about 25 years, and are most active at dawn and dusk, although they could appear at any time there is food available to them. The eat both plants and animals, although their diet mostly consists of skunk cabbage, berries, wild cherries, acorns, and beechnuts. Bears also eat insects, small mammals, and dead animals. She said they have excellent senses of smell and hearing, and are excellent climbers and strong swimmers. “They can smell things from three miles away,” she explained, adding that bears can run up to 35 miles per hour. When a bear appears on a person’s property, Smith advises that one should remain calm and make the bear aware of his or her presence by making a lot of noise, looking big by raising one’s arms, and backing away slowly, while making sure the bear has an escape route. She said one should not climb a tree or run from the bear. Sometimes a bear may utter a series of huffs or make popping sounds by snapping its jaws and swatting the ground, Smith said. She explained that these are warning signs that a person is too close to the bear. If a bear begins to bluff a charge because it feels cornered or threatened, one should stand his or her ground because the bear will veer off before contact. If the bear will not leave, Smith said humans should not make eye contact with the bear, but slowly head for a nearby shelter. According to Smith, black bear attacks are extremely rare. If a black bear does attack, she said one should fight back and punch its eyes and nose and not play dead, because black bears eat dead animals. There are three categories of bear activity in the state, according to Smith. Category 3 involves those black bears who look for food in bird feeders, but are not a threat to public safety. Category 2 involves black bears who look for food in garbage containers and dumpsters, but cause less than $500 in property damage. Police are authorized to use rubber buckshot and pyrotechnic charges to scare them away, but they will return if the garbage is not removed. Category 1 involves black bears who enter homes looking for food, and are a threat to public safety or cause extensive property damage by entering cars or tents. This category includes bears that feed on crops or attack livestock. Smith advised that there has not been a fatality caused by a black bear in the state in more than 100 years, but there have been about 10 attacks in the state. She emphasized that a black bear is typically not aggressive towards humans, but if they become a threat to public safety they (continued on page 23)