In 2025, New Jersey is seeing fewer black bear sightings and complaints than in recent years – likely a relief to many, especially those living in areas where bear activity has been common. The state’s latest data shows a clear drop in incidents involving bears, including fewer sightings and less property damage.
However, that doesn’t mean the bears are gone. In fact, suburban towns are still seeing bears in backyards, near trash bins, and walking through neighborhoods. Even with lower numbers overall, the presence of bears in towns like Ridgewood and Westwood reminds people that these animals remain part of everyday life in many parts of the state.
The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife continues to monitor the situation closely. Wildlife officials are encouraging residents to stay alert, follow safety tips, and avoid giving bears any reason to stick around.
- Black bear incidents in New Jersey dropped by 28.21% in 2025, with 257 cases reported from January 1 to May 21, down from 358 in the same period in 2024.
- Bears are still active in towns like Ridgewood and Westwood, where they were seen breaking into trash and eating from bird feeders.
- New Jersey’s black bear population has more than doubled since 2018 and is now present in all 21 counties.
Bear Sightings Drop Across the State in 2025
Between January 1 and May 21, 2025, the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife recorded 257 black bear incidents statewide. During the same period in 2024, there were 358 incidents, which represents a 28.21% decrease in total bear-related incidents in New Jersey.
In addition to the overall drop, bear sightings specifically also went down. There were 63 reported sightings in 2025 as of May 21, compared to 94 during the same period in 2024. That is a decline of 32.98%. Reports of black bear damage and nuisance also fell. In 2025, there were 194 reports of bear-related damage and nuisance incidents, down from 264 in the same timeframe in 2024.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) classifies black bear incidents into three categories. Category I incidents involve bears that are a threat to public safety or property. Category II refers to nuisance bears, which are not a direct threat to public safety or property. Category III describes normal bear behavior that is not considered threatening. These categories are part of the Black Bear Activity Reports issued by the Division of Fish and Wildlife. The reports include incidents reported to the DEP, but they do not include cases handled by local police departments unless the DEP was involved.
In 2025, Sussex County reported the most black bear incidents in the state, with 103. Warren County reported 65 incidents, and Morris County reported 36. According to the DEP’s most recent monthly report, which covered the period from April 20 through May 21, bear sightings, damage incidents, nuisance complaints, and total reported incidents were all down by nearly 50% compared to the same period in 2024.
DEP spokesperson Larry Hajna stated that it is difficult to draw conclusions based on short-term data. He explained that black bear activity and the number of public reports can be influenced by many factors, including food availability, weather, and the harvest rates from the previous hunting season.
Bears Are Still Being Spotted in Some Neighborhoods
Even with the decrease in reported activity, bears are still appearing in New Jersey neighborhoods. In Ridgewood, Bergen County, a black bear was seen multiple times in early June 2025. Surveillance cameras recorded the bear opening a trash bin on Hillcrest Road that had been secured with bungee cords. The bear successfully accessed the contents of the bin – this was the second bear sighting on Hillcrest Road in two days.
The bear was also seen walking through other parts of Ridgewood, including the backyards of residents on the west side of town. Ridgewood police confirmed they had received reports of a bear moving through the area. Ridgewood residents used text messages and Facebook groups to keep each other updated about the bear’s location. Sightings of black bears in Ridgewood are not uncommon, but some residents expressed concern because of how close the bear was to the downtown area.
In Westwood, a bear was reported in a backyard on First Avenue early in the morning. The bear was eating from the bird feeders. The Westwood Police Department stated that this kind of activity is not unusual in early spring. Police searched the area later in the day but did not locate the bear. The department reminded residents to use caution and remain aware of their surroundings.
Bear Population Expands Across New Jersey
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has stated that black bears now live in all 21 counties in the state. Although black bears are most commonly found in Sussex, Passaic, Warren, and Morris counties, their range has expanded over time.
According to NJDEP data, black bear-related incidents in Bergen County increased from 43 during the January to September period in 2023 to 59 in the same period in 2024. The NJDEP attributes changes in bear activity to seasonal food availability, natural bear behavior, and increased public awareness, which can influence how often people report sightings.
In Paramus, a black bear was seen running across Benton Road on April 30, 2018. In Teaneck, New Milford, and Bogota, bear sightings have been confirmed. These sightings typically occur near parks, wooded areas, and waterways. Bears are often drawn to unsecured trash, bird feeders, pet food, and grease on outdoor grills.
In 2018, New Jersey’s black bear population was estimated at approximately 1,500. In recent years, the population has grown to over 3,000. NJDEP projections estimate the bear population could exceed 4,000 by 2026. This population increase, combined with suburban development in former bear habitats, means that interactions between bears and people are becoming more frequent in residential areas.
Bears Are Active Year-Round but Most Common in Spring and Fall
The Division of Fish and Wildlife states that black bears in New Jersey are not true hibernators. Instead, they enter a state of dormancy called torpor during winter. In torpor, a bear’s heart and breathing rates slow down, and its body temperature drops slightly. Bears in torpor can wake easily and may leave their dens on mild winter days to look for food.
In spring, bears emerge from their dens and actively forage. They remain active through the summer breeding season and during the fall when they prepare to den for the winter. Pregnant females usually enter their dens by late October. Males may wait until December. Dens vary in type and can include hollow trees, rock cavities, ground nests, or areas beneath buildings.
What to Do if You See a Bear
New Jersey officials have shared several tips to help people avoid bear problems. People should keep trash in bear-resistant containers or store it inside. Grills should be cleaned and stored properly. Bird feeders should not be used between April 1 and December 1. Pet food bowls should not be left outside. Meat, dairy, and sweet foods should not go into compost piles. Fruit and nuts that fall from trees should be removed.
Electric fencing is recommended for protecting crops, beehives, and livestock.
If you see a bear, you should:
- Not run.
- Back away slowly.
- Do not look the bear in the eyes, as it may see that as a challenge.
- Make loud noises by shouting, banging pans, or using an air horn.
- Make yourself look bigger by raising your arms.
- If the bear shows warning signs—such as huffing, snapping its jaws, or swatting the ground—continue backing away slowly.
Sometimes a bear might stand on its back legs or move closer, but that does not always mean it is going to attack. Either way, stay vigilant, and if the bear does not leave, go inside a house or a car.
That said, you may not be able to make it to somewhere enclosed, in which case, according to officials, you should fight back if the bear attacks you. Attacks are very rare, but they have happened. In 2014, a Rutgers University student was killed by a black bear in West Milford – the first deadly bear attack in New Jersey in 150 years.
Bear Shot in West Harrison, New York
On June 5, 2025, CBS New York reported that a bear was shot and killed in West Harrison, a residential neighborhood in Westchester County, New York. Police said the bear was roaming around the area. West Harrison is about 22 miles northeast of New York City. The neighborhood is made up of closely spaced homes. The bear was described as scared when people approached it.
New Jersey Officials Continue to Monitor the Situation
Even with the drop in incidents this year, black bears remain a part of life in New Jersey. They now live in every part of the state, and bear-related problems can happen anywhere. Residents are being asked to stay alert and follow safety guidelines.
People who live in areas with frequent bear sightings, like Mahwah, Oakland, Ringwood, and Wayne, should have a safety plan, including teaching children what to do if they see a bear, using whistles or air horns, and knowing where to go to stay safe. If a bear gets into your home, officials say to leave doors open so it can find its way out.
Anyone who sees a bear causing damage or acting aggressively should contact their local police or call the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife at 877-927-6337. For updates and more information, the DEP’s Black Bear Activity Reports are available at dep.nj.gov/njfw/bears/activity-reports.
