The bear was first reported in Englewood near Pleasant Avenue, where police leadership was notified and officers were directed to monitor routes used by students walking to school on Tuesday, April 28, Mayor Michael Wildes said.
That night, Teaneck police confirmed the bear was seen near the Teaneck Armory.
Sightings were reported in Tenafly on Wednesday, April 29, and in the afternoon hours, the bear was spotted along Hickory Avenue in Bergenfield.
Last June, a black bear killed a fawn in a Maywood backyard, as reported by Daily Voice.
According to the Appalachian Mountain Club, black bears typically come out of hibernation right around this time of year (March to April). Eighty percent of their diet consists of mostly palnts, fruit, and nuts, and 20% consists of fish, insects and "the occasional small mammal," the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources says. The AMC said Black bears learn where food is and keep coming back, and when they get used to people, it can shorten their lives.
Here's what to do if you come in contact with a black bear, according to the NJDEP: Stay calm, back away slowly, and never feed or approach black bears. Making noise and giving the animal space can help prevent encounters, which are rarely dangerous.
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