What are you defining as South Jersey? Here in true S Jersey we are operating under the belief the bears haven’t gotten here yet (Burlington County for example), but I hear of a sighting every so often.
Bear problem is because Corzine in his liberal idiocy is preventing the hunting that all wildlife professionals know is needed.
We saw one last summer on the side of the parkway by the Manahawkin exit. We also saw one in New Gretna right off of rt 9. People in our campground say that there are bears in Lower Bank too.