The incidents included a bear loitering at a school bus stop and an animal chasing a woman into her neighbor's garage. Seeing a black bear in the wild is an exhilarating experience. In a sense, there is no place left for New Jersey's black bears to go, but in our own backyards. We must learn to live with bears and appreciate the species for the valuable natural resource that it is. However, we must also acknowledge that as this population continues to increase, some form of control will need to be implemented.
Most bears are easily frightened into leaving.
Never approach the animal and observe only from a distance. Make your presence known through clapping, talking, singing or making other sounds. Make sure the bear has an escape route. These are all warning signs that you are too close. Slowly back away.