Female Black Bear.
All photos courtesy of Thomas Gorman

by Thomas W. Gorman

Throughout my lifetime I have always found enjoyment and relaxation whenever I spend time hiking, canoeing, fly fishing, photographing nature, or just simply taking a walk on a wooded trail.  Each and every time I venture out into nature, I find that it is not only a great means of physical and mental therapy, but it is also a great learning experience as well.

One creature in particular, which I have recently learned much about, is the American Black Bear (Ursus americanus), a species that is well known in New Jersey.  It is not uncommon to hear about Black Bears raiding bird feeders, trash, or even just wandering around town. When these reports happen, the local police and conservation officers are called in, and in most cases, the animal is tranquilized and relocated back into one of the many state forests or wildlife management areas.  

Female Black Bear.

What is quite amazing, and yes, a heart-stopping experience, is to actually be able to watch a Black Bear in its natural habitat.  Between early 2009 and mid-way through 2010, I was fortunate to see these creatures in places such as Stokes State Forest, the Pequest hatchery area, and Wildcat Ridge WMA.  Out of 27 different sightings, 9 were too close for comfort, 11 were at least 200’ away, and the rest were at a much safer distance. 

Each and every time I sighted this species, I would see differences in how they foraged, how they interacted with each other, and how they cared for their young. In all cases, I found it was best to retreat safely and slowly in the direction from which I came.  Of course, prior to leaving the area, I would take many pictures of the bear.  The Black Bear is indeed an amazing animal and if you do come across one while hiking or walking in the woods, simply appreciate what you saw and slowly back away and leave the area.

Black Bear cub.

An excellent source of information regarding the Black Bear in New Jersey, can be found on the NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife’s web site: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/bearfacts.htm

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