Black Bear Spotted In Chatham Sunday Morning

CHATHAM, NJ — A black bear was spotted in Chatham Sunday morning, police said in an alert to residents.

The bear was seen in the area of Mohawk Trail and Fairmount Ave, police said around 9:40 a.m. As of the time of the alert, the bear was non-aggressive.

Black bears are usually non-aggressive, but the NJ DEP has these tips on staying safe around bears:

• Remain calm. Do not run!
• Make the bear aware of your presence by making noise. Leave an escape route for the bear. If the bear does not leave, slowly back away.
• If the bear approaches, stand your ground and be assertive. Make yourself look big by waving your arms. Stay together as a group. Toss rocks or sticks.
• If a black bear attacks, fight back! Do not play dead!
• Never feed a bear. It is Dangerous and Illegal. Fed bears can become habituated and may need to be killed to protect public safety.
• When hiking and camping, make sure your campsite is secure and clean. Read more camping and hiking tips here.