Black Bear Caught in Millburn Following Nearby Sightings

A black bear was on Monday, less than two weeks after similar sightings in Madison, and just days after reports in Summit.

Valerie Smith, a resident on Norwood Avenue in Summit, said a bear was wandering around the Deforest Avenue area early Saturday morning before police chased it back into the woods.

"When it came down the tree it went into the Memorial Garden (at the Methodist Church) and then came back out and crossed Deforest and came across our driveway," she said via email Monday night. "The police wanted me off the street when the bear came out of the tree so I went inside."

Smith said the bear then ventured behind her home.

"The bear was very large," she said. "I've seen small bears at my families farm. This one was large."

But police say it is unknown if the bear sighted in Summit over the weekend is the same bear that was captured in the Windemere Terrace and West Road neighborhood of Short Hills.

The bear, described as about one year old and weighing about 100 pounds, was tranquillized by wildlife technicians from the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife.

About two weeks ago, Madison police alerted residents through Nixle of bear sightings on the south side of the borough.

Last week, there were two black bear sightings in Livingston. The first happened at on Route 10. The next day, the bear was sighted near and police asked children to stay inside during recess and physical education as a precaution. The bear was seen again over the weekend near the West Orange border, said Det. Sgt. Anthony Dippold.

"Whether its the same bear, we don't know," Captain Jim Miller, Millburn Police Public Information Officer, said.

A bear was also sighted last June in the Woodland Avenue/Canoe Brook Parkway area of Summit.

Summit Police urged residents then that if they sight a bear again to not approach or feed the bear.

"Take children and pets inside and close your doors," they warned in a press release. "If a bear is encountered away from your home, the bear will run away if he hears loud noise or yelling."

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish & Wildlife provided tips for avoiding attracting bears and what to do if one is sighted.