New Jersey's annual black bear hunting season will begin Dec. 8 and continue until Dec. 13. The state has held a black bear hunt every December since 2010.
WEST MILFORD, N.J. (AP) -- A black bear believed to have attacked and killed a hiker over the weekend likely was looking for food and was circling the victim's body when sheriff's officers and wildlife officials killed it, officials said Monday.
North Jersey still has the "lion's share" of bears, but animal experts claim bear sightings are bound to become more common for residents in the central and southern portions of the state.
Black bears are beginning to emerge from their winter slumber and homeowners in northern New Jersey, where the animals are known to roam, are urged to take precautions to prevent encounters.
Legislation will be considered by a State Senate Committee this week that calls for bear-resistant garbage containers, cans and dumpster to be required for all Garden State residents who live near wooded areas where bears have been spotted.