Bear That Killed Dog, Injured Sparta Woman To Be Euthanized

SPARTA, NJ — A bear that killed a dog and injured an 81-year old woman in Sparta on Monday night, will be euthanized when it is located, state officials say.

"Due to the aggressive behavior exhibited in this incident, the Division of Fish and Wildlife has classified the bear that made contact with the woman as Category 1. Bears deemed Category 1 are trapped and euthanized as soon as possible to protect the public and to eliminate further damage to property and/or agricultural crops," said Larry Hajna, a spokesman with New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife.

NJDEP is jointly investigating the attack with the Sparta Police Department.

Around 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 4, a Sparta resident said her dog, with a relative's dog, charged at a pair of bears after they spotted them by open bags of garbage that she had left outside for Tuesday’s trash pickup.

At the sight of the dogs approaching, one bear ran off into the woods, while the other struck the woman's oncoming dog. When she yelled at the bear and tried to steer it from further injuring her dog, it bit and scratched her, said Lt. John Lamon, a spokesperson for the Sparta Police Department.

After further investigation, the DEP said her scratch was likely from her falling, rather than the bear.

The bear then picked up the hurt dog and carried it near the woods with the second dog chasing after it.

RELATED: Bear Kills Dog, Attacks 81-Year-Old Woman In Sparta

The Echo Drive resident, who is too distraught over the loss of her English Springer Spaniel and asked not to be identified, Lamon said, was taken to Newton Medical Center for treatment including stitches to her leg, while responding officers found the dog, which died from its injuries at a veterinary hospital.

The relative's dog was uninjured.

Indicating that bear attacks on people are very rare, most strategies are non-lethal with handling bears.

Recently the DEP was awarded $1.5 million in the 2022 budget for the state’s new BEAR (Bear Education, Assistance and Response) Management program that will "add more biologists, wildlife technicians and conservation police officers to advance public awareness and law enforcement response initiatives."

Overall, the Division of Fish and Wildlife said “interactions with [bears] must be avoided for public safety and the well-being of the animals.”

The DEP provided these steps to reduce the possibility of encountering black bears:

• Never feed or approach a bear.
• Remain calm if you encounter a bear. Do not run from it.
• Make the bear aware of your presence by speaking in an assertive voice, singing, clapping your hands, or making other noises.
• Make sure the bear has an escape route.
• If a bear enters your home, provide it with an escape route by propping all doors open.
• Avoid direct eye contact, which may be perceived by a bear as a challenge. Never run from a bear. Instead, slowly back away.
• To scare the bear away, make loud noises by yelling, banging pots and pans or using an airhorn. Make yourself look as big as possible by waving your arms. If you are with someone else, stand close together with your arms raised above your head.
• The bear may utter a series of huffs, make popping jaw sounds by snapping its jaws and swat the ground. These are warning signs that you are too close. Slowly back away, avoid direct eye contact and do not run.
• If a bear stands on its hind legs or moves closer, it may be trying to get a better view or detect scents in the air. It is usually not a threatening behavior.
• Black bears will sometimes "bluff charge" when cornered, threatened or attempting to steal food. Stand your ground, avoid direct eye contact, then slowly back away and do not run.
• If the bear does not leave, move to a secure area.
• Report black bear damage or nuisance behavior to the DEP's 24-hour, toll-free hotline at 1-877-WARN DEP (1-877-927-6337).
• Families who live in areas frequented by black bears should have a "Bear Plan" in place for children, with an escape route and planned use of whistles and air horns.
• Use certified bear-resistant garbage containers and keep the container outdoors if you live in an area frequented by black bears. Certified bear-resistant trash containers have passed a formal testing procedure and are proven to keep bears out. Certified containers offer the best protection.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.