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.
When camping, birding, hiking, hunting or fishing in areas frequented by black bears, it is important to follow common-sense safety tips to avoid attracting black 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.
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.
Human garbage is attractive to black bears.
Bears that associate people with food may have to be
trapped or destroyed. Be a good neighbor
by following these tips.
Click the link below to see how the black bear population has increased and spread throughout New Jersey over past years.
NJDEP’s Fish and Wildlife staff utilize nonlethal bear management strategies to reduce the number of human interactions with bears.