Black Bear Sightings – Please Read

April 21, 2026

New Jersey’s Black Bears Now Emerging from Winter Dens. Be sure to properly secure your trash and take precautions to reduce the risk of encounters.

Animal Control Officer Nyesha Foster verified a young black bear sighting on Nursery Road on April 21^st.

There have been black bear sightings in Ewing over the weekend. If you see a bear, move to a safe location. If you believe there is an immediate danger, call 9-1-1, otherwise call 609-882-1313 so we can be aware of its location.

We recycle the following annual warnings published by the Division of Fish and Wildlife at the NJ DEP about taking steps to reduce the potential for encounters with black bears as they begin to emerge from their winter dens. Hungry bears are now out and about actively foraging for food. “We’ve had a long winter, and black bears are emerging from their dens and searching for food,” said NJDEP Fish & Wildlife Assistant Commissioner Dave Golden. “They have a remarkable sense of smell and can detect scents from more than two miles away from a food source. Therefore, it’s very important that residents reduce the potential for encounters by removing trash and other potential food sources as the smell can draw them into neighborhoods. The risk of an unwanted encounter rises if bears associate you or your property with food.”

It is essential to remove and properly secure trash, pet food, bird seed, and even small livestock. Bears that have access to these food sources will learn to associate food with people and their homes. This can lead bears to regularly forage in neighborhoods and approach humans, potentially resulting in property damage or unwanted encounters with people. The use of bear-resistant trash receptacles can help deter bears.

It is also critically important to never feed black bears. Intentionally feeding bears is illegal in New Jersey and carries a fine of up to $1,000. It is extremely unsafe and may result in bears becoming aggressive.

Bear Facts

Black bears (Ursus americanus) are the largest land mammal in New Jersey with an increasing population that has been expanding its range both southward and eastward from the forested areas of northwestern New Jersey (including Morris, Sussex, Warren and northern Passaic counties, and portions of Hunterdon, Somerset, and Bergen counties). They have been sighted in all of New Jersey’s 21 counties. Hopefully, we are all doing our part to take steps to better minimize potential conflicts.

It is important to remember that bears are an integral part of the state’s natural heritage and are a vital component of healthy ecosystems. They are omnivorous, eating plants, berries, insects, prey animals such as white tail deer fawns, carrion, and human garbage or food leftovers.

Spring is a time when bears are very active. They have emerged from their dens and are actively foraging for food. People who live or visit areas of the state where bears are out should be alert to their presence and take steps to avoid interactions with them.

What about bear attacks?

Black bear attacks are extremely rare. In fact, by nature, bears are wary of people. If a black bear does attack, fight back. According to DEP Fish & Wildlife Assistant Commissioner David Golden: “People can reduce the likelihood of attracting bears if they diligently bear-proof their property by removing or properly securing any potential food sources. It is also critically important for people to never feed black bears. Feeding bears is dangerous, illegal and may result in bears becoming aggressive.”

Safety Tips

The DEP offers the following tips for property owners and outdoor enthusiasts to minimize conflicts with bears:

Property Owners

Secure trash and eliminate obvious sources of food such as pet food bowls, easy-to-reach bird feeders, or food residue left on barbecue grills.
Use certified bear-resistant garbage containers if possible. Otherwise, store all garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids and place them along the inside walls of your garage, or in the basement, a sturdy shed or other secure area.
Wash garbage containers frequently with a disinfectant solution to remove odors. Put out garbage on collection day, not the night before.
Avoid feeding birds when bears are active.
Immediately remove all uneaten food and food bowls used by pets fed outdoors.
Clean outdoor grills and utensils to remove food and grease residue. Store grills securely.
Do not place meat, dairy or any sweet foods in compost piles.
Remove fruit or nuts that fall from trees in your yard.
Properly install electric fencing as an effective way to protect crops, beehives, and livestock.

Following these suggestions is essential to reducing bear encounters because they will learn to associate food with people and their homes and begin to forage in neighborhoods for food. Nuisance bears can cause property damage, approach humans for food and become dangerous. Intentionally feeding bears is illegal in New Jersey and carries a fine of up to $1,000.

Outdoor Enthusiasts

If you encounter a black bear in your neighborhood or outdoors while hiking, birding, fishing, or camping, follow these safety tips:

Remain calm. Bears can run up to 35 mph so never run from them, as this may trigger their predatory instinct. Instead, slowly back away. Avoid direct eye contact, which may be perceived by a bear as a challenge. Make sure the bear has an escape route.
To scare the bear away, make loud noises by yelling, using a whistle, banging pots and pans, or blowing an air horn. 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.
Make bears aware of your presence by speaking in an assertive voice, singing, clapping your hands, or making other noises. If hiking through bear country, always make your presence known through loud talking or clapping of hands.
If a bear utters a series of huffs, makes popping jaw sounds by snapping its jaws or swats the ground, these are warning signs that you are too close. Slowly back away and avoid direct eye contact. 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. This is usually a non-threatening behavior.
Black bears will sometimes "bluff charge" when cornered, threatened, or attempting to steal food. Stand your ground, avoid direct eye contact, slowly back away and do not run.
If the bear does not leave, move to a secure area, such as a vehicle or a building.
Families who live in areas frequented by black bears should have a “Bear Plan” in place for children, with an escape route and planned use of whistles and air horns.

Report black bear damage or aggressive bears to the Ewing Police department at 609-882-1313 or call Fish & Wildlife at 1-(877) WARN DEP (1-877-927-6337).

For more information about black bears in New Jersey, visit dep.nj.gov/njfw/bears/.

Resources

New Jersey Black Bear Education and Safety Video from the NJDEP