NJ Fish and Wildlife: Union Beach Bear was behaving normally

O’Scanlon: Bears Hanging out in Monmouth County on Memorial Day Weekend is not “normal behavior”

Male bear killed in Union Beach on Saturday night. photo by Councilman Charlie Cocuzza

In response to our report this morning that NJ DEP’s Fish and Wildlife Division told Union Beach Police officials that “We don’t come out on weekends” and “that is not our protocol,” when the UBPD asked for their assistance in tranquilizing and relocating the bear that was shot and killed last night, DEP spokesman Bob Considine said, “the notion that F&W biologist don’t work weekends is ridiculous and offensive.”

Considine said that had the Union Beach situation been Category 1, i.e., the bear was a threat to public safety or property, that Fish and Wildlife biologists would have been on the scene. He said that the situation in Union Beach last night was a Category 3…a bear exhibiting normal behavior and not a nuisance or threat to public safety.

Considine said that F&W advised UBPD that they would not be disposing of the carcass over the weekend.  The bear’s body is now stored in a locked dumpster on Union Beach Borough property.  “Perhaps something got lost in translation,” he said.

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Middletown Bear Opens A Twitter Account

The Middletown bear has not been located by Animal Control or the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife yet, according to the Township Police, but there have been several more sightings reported on facebook throughout the Township. According to social media posts, there may be two bears…a cub and an adult.

@MiddletownBear opened a Twitter account last night.  The bear reports that it is just checking out the town and is puzzled why JCP&L wants to build a massive powerline so close to parks, schools and homes.  It posted that it was looking for the beach, but got distracted by a ferry in Belford. #wherearethefish. The bear is thinking of hosting a BBQ in Tantum Park this weekend.

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Bear Spotted in Middletown

photo via facebook

A black bear was spotted in the River Plaza section of Middletown Township last evening, near Nutswamp Road and the federal road connecting Naval Weapons Station Earle’s Leonardo and Colts Neck facilities, which is not far from Middletown High School South.

Lt. Paul Bailey of the Middletown Police Department confirmed reports of the bear sighting and said that Animal Control and The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife have been notified.  Bailey said that as of noon on Friday, no Middletown Police Officers have seen the bear.

“Don’t approach the bear, feed it or give it a picnic basket,” Bailey said in a warning to residents.  “If you see the bear, call the police. Try it keep it in your line of sight, but do not approach or engage the animal.”

Middletown Township released the following guidelines for dealing with bears:

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