Bear captured in Ridgewood; experts say expect to see more

RIDGEWOOD, N.J. (AP) -- Fish and wildlife officials tranquilized a bear found roaming through a northern New Jersey neighborhood in a sign that bear-sighting season is here.

The 175-pound male black bear was seen Saturday morning in Ridgewood, and may have been the same one seen in Hawthorne Friday night. It was set to be released back into the wild.

Experts tell The Record bear sightings pick up at this time of year as the bruins emerge from hibernating to look for food. Males can roam as far as 50 miles from their dens.

Bears have been seen around New Jersey but are concentrated in the northwest part of the state. A state-sanctioned bear hunt has killed about 1,900 bears since 2010. The state has proposed expanding the hunt in coming years.

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