Black Bear Encounters All Year

What is the largest land mammal in New Jersey? It is the black bear. Continuing with our "black bears weekend" as we enter autumn weather...

There are myths about many species of wildlife in our state - bats, snakes, and bears included. For example, black bears (what you will encounter in New Jersey) are not true hibernators and may be active throughout the year. Many people assume that in winter, they won't see any bears. They are an integral part of the state’s natural heritage and a vital component of healthy ecosystems.

Since the 1980s, the Garden State’s black bear population has been increasing and expanding its range both southward and eastward from the forested areas of northwestern New Jersey. Within the most densely populated state in the nation, black bears are thriving, and there are now confirmed bear sightings in all 21 of New Jersey’s counties.

In autumn, many New Jerseyans and visitors will be camping, birding, hiking, hunting or fishing in areas frequented by black bears. The mere presence of a black bear is not considered a problem. In general, bears tend to be wary of people. 

Here are some guidelines for bear safety.

Wary as they may be, black bears learn very quickly. Bears that are fed intentionally or unintentionally by carelessly leaving out food or garbage while camping, hiking or fishing will learn to associate people with food. Like birds at your feeder, once black bears learn of an easily accessible food source, like a cooler at a campground, they may lose their wariness of people and return to a location in search of more available food sources. These bears can become a nuisance or aggressive and may have to be trapped and relocated or destroyed. 

For more on staying safe in bear country, see Bear Encounters.