Living with the Black Bear

Black Bear are becoming an increasingly difficult nuisance to live with in our Township.  While the majority of the Black Bear population will peacefully coincide with the human race, there are those select few that will become a nuisance for some residents of our Township.  Law Enforcement Officials are endowed with the responsibility for dealing with such problem Bears in their respective communities via State Statutes.  Prior to handling a Black Bear incident, Law Enforcement Officers attend and become certified in a Black Bear Incident Response Course.  In this course, Law Enforcement Officers are instructed on the approved method of responding to calls that deal with Black Bears, that coincides with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Fish and Wildlife, procedures.

To assist Law Enforcement in their handling of these incidents, the Division of Fish and Wildlife has established a rating and response criteria for reported Black Bear incidents.  This criteria establishes three categories that a Black Bear incident falls into:  Category I, Category II, and Category III. 

Category I Bears constitute a threat to life and property.  These Bears exhibit behaviors such as attacks resulting in human injury or death, entries or attempted entries into areas of current human habitation, attempted entries into motor vehicles, attacks on or kills of large and small livestock, attacks or kills of domestic pets, tame or aggressive actions in which the Bear approaches within 10 feet of a human, bluff charging, chasing and following humans, non-yielding behavior when approached by humans, refusal to respond to loud noises, recognizable Black Bear damage to row crops and other vegetative growth, and property damage estimated to be in access of $500.00. 

Category II Bears are nuisance Bears that do not constitute a threat to life and property.  These Bears exhibit behavior such as persistent repeated visits to schools, bus stops, playgrounds, campgrounds, or restaurants, provided that no Category I behavior has been observed.  Additionally, repeated habitual use of dumpsters/ garbage containers, repeated destruction of bird feeders, and property damage estimated to be less than $500.00 also classifies a Bear into this category.

Category III Bears are animals that are exhibiting normal behavior and are NOT creating a nuisance or a threat to the safety of the public.  These Bears exhibit behavior such as passing through suburban neighborhoods, without committing any of the behavior described in either Category I or category II.  Bears occasionally utilizing bird feeders and trash containers for provisions, may also be classified in this category. 

In any instance where a Township resident or visitor observes a Black Bear exhibit behavior described in any of the above categories, it is requested that the individual immediately contact the Stillwater Township Police Department either by dialing

9-1-1 or (973) 383-3773.

If you have questions or would like a brochure that contains helpful information that may assist you in preventing encounters with nuisance Bears, please feel free to contact the Stillwater Township Police Department at (973) 383-3773.

For more information on New Jersey's Bear population, please visit the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Fish and Wildlife website at

 http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/bearinfo.htm

To learn more about Black Bears Click on the below link:

The American Black Bear

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