1. Black bear takes dip in NJ pool

    Or close to it.

  2. NJ.com: Bear sightings in Metuchen and Union are rare and unwelcome →

    Wow, one of these was right next to the town where I grew up, and the other was just blocks from my house.

  3. “Bear invasion”: TV report about bears around Jackson, New Jersey Interesting report on the bears around the Jersey Shore.

    “Bear invasion”: TV report about bears around Jackson, New Jersey

    Interesting report on the bears around the Jersey Shore.

  4. Reuters: Black bears sighted near New Jersey Shore

    Here’s what Reuters is reporting:

    Up to 12 black bear sightings have been called in over the past three weeks by residents in Ocean County, said Jackson Township Police Sergeant Edward Bennett on Wednesday.

    They’re not sure if it’s one active bear, or several.

  5. Bear hunt ends in New Jersey

    The hunt is over, with an estimated 562 bears killed during the hunt. Learn more.

  6. Will there be a bear hunt in New Jersey?

    Well, it’s not clear yet whether there will be a bear hunt in New Jersey.

    Two anti-hunting groups have filed lawsuits against the hunt, and a court is expected to rule on the case soon. Here’s a story explaining the situation:

    Court may decide Friday whether N.J. bear hunt can proceed

  7. New Jersey prepares for bear hunt

    Once again, there will be a bear hunt in New Jersey, with some of the details covered in this AP report. The state DEP rejected a request to postpone the bear hunt, as outlined in this document. Here’s an excerpt:

    The Commissioner, responding to a Nov. 17 written request by the Animal Protection League of New Jersey and the Bear Education and Resource Group, declined to postpone an upcoming six-day hunt scheduled for a seven-county region, including parts of Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon, Passaic, Morris, Somerset and Bergen counties, that is scheduled to start Dec 6.

    “The facts are clear, we have an overpopulation of black bears in New Jersey, and we must address that issue,” said Commissioner Martin. “A regulated black bear hunt is one important and necessary tool to deal with the growing number of bears, as part of the State’s overall, comprehensive approach to managing its black bear population.”

    The most recent black bear population estimate for the portion of New Jersey north of Interstate 80 is approximately 3,400 animals, which is a marked rise from less than 500 in the mid-1990s. Bears also have been reported in all 21 counties, with a corresponding rise in bear complaints.