Princeton Animal Control would like to remind all staff and residents that Black Bears are native to New Jersey and have been sighted in all 21 New Jersey counties. Black Bears are omnivorous and will eat a wide variety of food including fruit, nuts, trash, meat scraps and more. Recently there was a confirmed report of a Black Bear in the area of Cherry Valley Rd & Great road. Below are some tips to reduce bear related encounters:
- Secure your trash in bear resistant garbage containers or with tight fitting lids to reduce odors.
- Clean any food scraps from grills porches and decks, and keep meet scraps out of compost piles.
- Pets should not be fed outdoors unless absolutely necessary.
- Immediately remove all uneaten food and bowls used by pets fed outdoors
(NO food after dark).
- Never hang bird feeders in easy to reach locations
(feeders should be at least 10 feet in the air).
- Put out garbage on collection day, not the night before.
- Wash garbage containers with disinfectant to remove odors.
- Secure beehives, livestock, and fruit crops with electric fence.
Residents should report bear damage, nuisance behavior or aggressive Black Bears directly to the NJ DEP Hotline at 1-877-WARN-DEP (877-927-6337) or their local police department. Additional bear information can be found at http://www.nj.gov/dep/newsrel/2016/16_0028.htm
24 hour DEP Hotline at: 1-877-WARN-DEP (877-927-6337)
