Bear Kills Second Dog In Another Sparta Attack

SPARTA, NJ — A second bear attack in less than a month has killed another dog on Wednesday night in Sparta.

In this latest attack, Sparta police were called very early Thursday morning, shortly after midnight, by Bill Pierce of Layton Lane, who told police he had let his dog — a Yorkie named “Tommy” — out at about 10 p.m., said Lt. John Lamon, a spokesperson for the police department.

Pierce told police he had called for his dog and when the dog didn’t return, he searched for him. Finding bear tracks and blood in the snow, Pierce found the Yorkie motionless by the woods, with veterinarians unable to save him.

The responding officer on the call confirmed there were bear tracks and blood but didn’t locate the bear.

Lamon said the police department hasn’t determined if both attacks involve the same bear, with the other attack on Echo Drive, a few miles from the first.

The first attack occurred on Jan. 3 when an 81-year-old woman had let two dogs out. They charged a pair of bears tearing apart some garbage bags left out for trash pickup the next day. One of the bears retreated, while the one left behind ended up swiping at and killing one of the dogs. The woman was injured when she attempted to stop the attack.

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

During the Jan. 3 incident, the unidentified woman yelled at the bear, trying to keep it from further hurting her dog; and police said it bit her. That bear ended up dragging the dog toward the woods, with it later taken to a veterinary hospital, where it died from its injuries. After the woman received stitches at a local hospital, she was found to also have a scratch, which state authorities had believed were likely from falling, rather than the bear.

When Patch contacted Department of Environmental Protection spokesperson Larry Hajna on Thursday for more information on the case, he said he was not yet aware of it and was seeking more information.

In the first Sparta case, the bear was classified “Category 1,” which means they are trapped and euthanized as soon as possible to protect the public and to eliminate further damage to property and/or agricultural crops,” Hajna had said.

RELATED: Bear That Killed Dog, Injured Sparta Woman To Be Euthanized

At that time, Hajna added that bear attacks on people are very rare and most strategies in handling them are non-lethal.

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 Patch after the first incident, which 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.