Bear Activity- Saddle River & Surrounding Areas!- More info@ 
Bear Activity- Saddle River & Surrounding Areas!
Recently there has been a increase in Black Bears roaming around in northern Bergen County. Most of the time they are just looking for someting to eat. Below are some tips from the State of NJ on how to deal with the increased bear activity in our area.
Avoid Attracting Bears
Black bears are attracted by odors from potential food sources created by people. Carefully controlling these sources of food and associated odors can help prevent black bears from being attracted to people’s property and teaching them to associate people with food.
Residents can take simple, practical precautions to avoid attracting black bears and to discourage the animals from becoming a nuisance. Learn more about what you can do to prevent bear encounters at your home, in your municipality, on your farm and while camping and hiking by visiting the following pages.
https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/bears/prevent-bear-damage/
Bear Encounters
Black bears by nature tend to be wary of people. However, if you encounter a black bear in your neighborhood or outdoors while hiking or camping, follow these common-sense safety tips.
DON’T- Do not feed bears.
- Do not approach bears. Especially feeding bears, which will aggressively defend their food.
- Do not run from bears. Running may trigger a chase response.
- Do not make direct eye contact. Bears may perceive this as a challenge.
- Remain calm and slowly back away.
- Make the bear aware of you.
- Be loud: speak in an assertive voice, yell, sing, or clap your hands. If available, bang pots and pans or use an airhorn.
- Make yourself look big.Wave your arms. Hold your jacket above your head.
- If you’re in a group, stay together and perform these actions together.
- Make sure the bear has an escape route. If a bear enters your home, prop all the doors open.
- If the bear doesn’t leave, move to a secure area.
- If your family lives in an area frequented by black bears, create a “Bear Plan” for children, with an escape route and planned use of whistles and air horns.
- Black bear attacks are extremely rare. If a black bear does attack, fight back! Aim for the snout and/or eyes. Use anything at hand: (knife, sticks, rocks, binoculars, backpack or kick the bear).
- -Report black bear damage or nuisance behavior to the DEP’s 24-hour, toll-free hotline at 1-877-WARN DEP (1-877-927-6337).
- The bear may utter a series of huffs, make popping 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/bears/bear-encounters/
Homeowner Facts
New Jersey residents, especially those in areas frequented by black bears, should take steps to avoid attracting bears with food or garbage. This is the best way to prevent black bears from becoming a nuisance near your home.
Some residents may observe black bears using yards as part of their natural travel corridors. The mere presence of a black bear is not considered a problem. Generally, bears tend to be wary of people. It is important not to leave out any food or garbage that may encourage bears to linger in residential areas. One person feeding bears can create a problem bear that may affect the entire neighborhood.
Black bears learn very quickly and bears that are fed intentionally or unintentionally by carelessly leaving out food or garbage will associate people with food. Bears will eat almost anything including human food, garbage, pet food, birdseed and small livestock. Once they find an easily accessible food source, like garbage in a housing development, they will lose their wariness of people and may return to the available food source. These bears can become a nuisance or aggressive and may have to be trapped and aversively conditioned or destroyed.
https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/bears/bear-facts-for-homeowners/
Address/Location
Saddle River NJ Police
83 E Allendale Rd
Saddle River, NJ 07458
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 201-327-5300