Bear Attacks Donkey In Chester Twp. Backyard, Cops Say

A bear got into the backyard of a Chester Township home Friday night and attacked a donkey, Chester Township police announced.

The homeowner on Cherry Tree Lane said he heard a noise Friday night but didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary until Saturday morning, Lt. Ed Noonan said. When he came out Saturday morning he saw his donkey was missing and located in the next door neighbor’s in-ground pool, Noonan said.

Police were contacted, along with Animal Control Officers, who said the donkey suffered wounds to its chest and hind quarters which were consistent with an attack made by a bear, Noonan said.

A veterinarian responded to the scene and treated the animal, which was able to walk back to its yard on its own power, Noonan said.

The yard in which the donkey was located is not surrounded by an electric fence, meaning the bear may not be categorized as an aggressive animal since its path to the donkey was not impeded.

Patch is awaiting more details from the New Jersey Department of Fish and Wildlife.

This is the second attack by a bear on an animal in less than a month in Chester Township. In November, a bear attacked and killed a goat in the same town but was not considered aggressive enough to pursue since the entry to the backyard was accessible.

Monday marks the start of New Jersey’s annual bear hunt, which runs through Dec. 12. The hunt, for the first time, could be expanded up to four more days if inclement weather stunts the originally scheduled six days.