Community Corner

Five Things You Need to Know About Bear Safety

And other essential information in and around Chatham.

With multiple bear sightings this spring and summer in , , , Millburn, and Morristown, it's important to know what to do if you spot one in your neighborhood. Given the large amount of open space in Chatham Township and the area's proximity to the Great Swamp. The odds of you spotting a bear as you run down Southern Boulevard or drive toward Main Street may be slim, but just in case, here are five things to beef up your knowledge about what you should and should not do if you see a bear in town:

  1. You Need to Know About Being Chill: If you see a bear, remain calm and keep your distance. Alert the bear to your presence by clapping or talking. If the bear does not leave, slowly back away, avoiding eye-contact. From a distance, bang pots or use an air horn to scare the bear away.
  2. You Need to Know Not to Feed Bears: Black bears learn very quickly and those that come to associate food with people may become aggressive, and thereby dangerous.
  3. You Need to Know to Take Down Bird Feeders in the Summer Months: If you feed cats or dogs outside, only do so during the day, and take the food and containers inside at night. Bird feeders should also be stored at least 10 feet in the air.
  4. You Need to Know About Garbage: Store your garbage in airtight containers, in an area away from doors to the garage or basement. Wash trash containers weekly with a disinfectant solution to remove food odors. This also can help keep deer away from your property as well.
  5. You Need to Know When Enough's Enough: If a bear becomes a constant nuisance or is responsible for continued damage problems, contact the police in or , or call the NJ Department of Environmental Protection hotline at 877-WARN DEP (877-927-6337).


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