State black bear unit busier in '07 ( New Jersey )

The Star-Ledger ^ | January 09, 2008 | FRED J. AUN

[george76]

The number of black bears that got in trouble between late November and late December nearly doubled last year as compared to the same period in 2006...

In a report to the state Fish and Game Council, the division's five-member Black Bear Unit said it received 50 calls for assistance between Nov. 20 and Dec. 20. During the same period in 2006, the black bear unit fielded 27 calls.

The unit uses a category system to rank misbehaving black bears. The most nefarious activity -- such as unprovoked attacks on people or animals, entries or attempted entries into houses, tents and vehicles and destruction of bee hives -- warrant a Category 1 label.

Category 2 complaints are a bit less severe, including entry of campsites, getting into trash and provoked attacks on animals.

The black bear unit said it dealt with four Category 1 calls during the November-December period. During the same stretch in 2006, the biologists responded to only one Category 1 complaint.

The report says the unit was called out for 28 Category 2 calls, double the number for the period in 2006...

[beyondashadow]

Garden State black bear overpopulation ping...

[george76]

The NJ bears need to avoid Pa.

[pandoraou812]

You hear we are now under attack here from giant Nutria Rodents? And I thought they were all down in Trenton.

The large 20 pound nutria rat is making its way up the East Coast from the Florida Keys and about to conquer New Jersey. The nutria rodent, happy destroying marshland ecosystems will find paradise in the vast NJ marshlands.

[Calpernia]

Wait a sec, you are serious? I thought you were making a joke. I was thinking of the thread from this morning on Bloomberg eating Cheez Its.

[pandoraou812]

Yes I am serious.

[Calpernia]

Looks like a common muskrat.

[pandoraou812]

I saw a better picture that showed its large nasty feet. They are going to be a big problem for our marshlands. I sure don’t want to run into one in the dark. Guess I will be carrying a big walking stick if I am roaming the campground alone. Those things are the size of my biggest Shih tzu. I hate rats!

[maine-iac7]

Another reason to bring a gun and ammo into the woods.

Problem there is, that if you're hiking the trail any distance, you'll cross several state lines - and would be carrying illegally 0

[Ditto]

I saw one 2 weeks ago on a backroad here in northern Morris County.

I camped in Morris county -- but that was over 40 years ago. No sign of bears in Jersey back then, as I recall. I also camped every year in the Allegheny National Forest in Northern Pennsylvania every year back in those days. There were lots of bears around there (you could find their tracks and scat) but I never actually saw one -- I think their natural survival instinct back then told them to stay the hell away from humans. Today, those Jersey bears sound like they are not the least bit afraid of humans.

[Clemenza]

Back in the days of the dinosaurs, anything past the Raritan was "South Jersey."

Basically, South Jersey now is anyplace within metropolitan Philly and south. North Jersey is anyplace within commuting distance from NY. Central Jersey is basically a cultural extension of North Jersey that lies south of the Raritan, yet north of Bordentown. I live in Lawrenceville, and we always say we are in CENTRAL Jersey, NEVER South Jersey.

[pandoraou812]

I am in Brick which when I was a child was rural. I remember cow farms lol. Now I think its famous for having more strip malls then any other town. As for being so safe, thats just silly. I would love to move more into the New Gretna area but with gas prices & house sales down thats not going to happen. If I do end up moving it will most likely be out of NJ because it just costs too darn much to live here!