Black bear sighting in Milltown: New Jersey police warn residents after animal spotted in Middlesex County

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, N.J. (WABC) – New Jersey police are advising citizens to remain alert after a black bear was reportedly spotted in Milltown.

Authorities said they received a bear sighting near 46 Vanliew Avenue on Monday. According to law enforcement officials, the bear has since moved away from the backyards of Vanliew Avenue and into a wooded area near the 50-foot-high Milltown railroad bridge truss.

Black bears are naturally wary of humans. If you see the bear, you are asked to contact Milltown police at 732-828-1100 or call the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection hotline at 877-927-6337.

Last month, reports of a wandering bear in Essex County prompted a local school district to cancel all outdoor activities out of an abundance of caution.

According to the New Jersey DEP, bear sightings in New Jersey are up 69.5% compared to the same period last year. However, the total number of encounters is down 1.26% and damage and nuisance is down 13.24%.

More than half of these interactions occurred in Sussex County.

Bears have also been recently spotted in Ridgewood, Ramsey, Prospect Park, Haledon and Wyckoff.

In the meantime, Milltown Police are offering residents the following tips if they encounter a bear:

NOT:

– Do not feed bears

– Do not approach the bears

– Do not run away from bears

– Avoid direct eye contact with bears

DO:

– Stay calm and retreat slowly

– Get the bear’s attention

– Be loud: speak in a firm voice, shout, sing or clap your hands. If possible, bang pots and pans or use an air horn.

– Make yourself look tall. Move your arms

For more safety tips on dealing with bears, visit the NJ DEP website.

ALSO READ | ‘Smiling’ black bear watching over Pasadena goes viral

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