Black bear sightings in New Jersey are down so far in 2025. A breakdown by the numbers – Bergen Record

Have you encountered any black bears yet this season? According to a report from the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, bear sightings and overall incidents are down so far in 2025.
The NJDEP’s most recent report details 257 reported bear incidents in the state between Jan. 1 and May 21. During the same period last year, New Jersey saw 358 reported incidents, marking a year-to-year decrease of 28.21%.
NJ Fish and Wildlife’s Black Bear Activity Reports split black bear activity into three categories to help dictate how the agency and local law enforcement should respond. Category I applies to incidents where a bear was a threat to public safety and property. Category II applies to nuisance bears, which are not a threat to public safety or property, and Category III is for normal, non-threatening bear behavior.
These reports include sightings and complaints reported to the DEP and do not include incidents handled by local police departments without the DEP’s assistance.
Per the most recent report, between Jan. 1 and May 21, there were 63 reported bear sightings in New Jersey. This number is down 32.98% from last year when there were 94 sightings in the same time period.
Damage and nuisance incidents are also down in 2025. According to the NJDEP, there have been 194 reported incidents of black bear damage and nuisance this year. In 2024, between Jan. 1 and May 21, the state saw 264 damage and nuisance incidents.
Sussex County has had the highest number of black bear reports so far this year with 103, followed by Warren County with 65 and Morris County with 36.
In its most recent monthly report, which ranged from April 20 through May 21, the NJDEP reported that bear sightings, damage and nuisance incidents, and the total number of reported incidents were all down by nearly 50% from the year prior.
While the number of reported black bear incidents are down, Larry Hajna, an NJDEP spokesperson, said in an emailed statement that it is difficult to discern any trends in such a short period of time.
“It is difficult to draw any conclusions as to short-term, seasonal changes in black bear incidents reported to the DEP because bear activity and the number of reports made by the public are influenced by many factors, including food, availability, weather, and harvest rates during the preceding hunting season,” said Hajna on May 29. “DEP Fish and Wildlife will continue to monitor incident reports and assess longer term trends as the season progresses.”
To view the NJDEP’s most recent Black Bear Activity Reports, visit https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/bears/activity-reports/.
Black bears are not true hibernators and may be active all year long, according to NJ Fish and Wildlife. However, during the winter they enter a state of dormancy called torpor. While in this state, their heart rate and respiratory rate slow down and their body temperature drops slightly. Bears can be easily awakened if they are disturbed while in torpor and may leave their dens in search of food on mild winter days.
Once the spring arrives, black bears emerge from their dens to actively forage for food. They are also active throughout the summer breeding season and in the fall while they prepare for the winter den period.
New Jersey’s black bears are most commonly found in the northwest region of the state, particularly in Sussex, Passaic, Warren and Morris counties, according to NJ Fish and Wildlife. However, as the bear population increases, they are expanding both east and south.
Black bears have been spotted in all 21 counties.
Although reported incidents are down, black bears are still around. Police are warning residents to use caution and remain aware of their surroundings.
“Early this morning a resident of First Avenue reported a bear in their back yard eating from the bird feeders,” wrote the Westwood Police Department in a post on Facebook. “This is not an uncommon phenomenon in the early spring. A check of the area during daylight hours did not determine the bear’s location.”
Westwood police urged residents to “use caution and be cognizant” of their surroundings.
Hajna echoed this warning, stating, “DEP Fish and Wildlife urges the public to always be aware of bears and take steps to avoid unwanted interactions with them, especially in the spring when they have emerged from their dens and are searching for food following the winter denning season, by removing access to unnatural food sources, such as trash, and using bear resistant trash receptacles.”
For many North Jersey residents, especially those who live in peak bear country, these practices have become habitual.
The DEP recommends that property owners practice the following safety tips to minimize black bear encounters and conflicts:
If you encounter a black bear, the NJDEP says to follow these safety tips:
Families who live in areas that are frequented by black bears should have a “bear plan” in place for children with an escape route and planned use of whistles and air horns, according to the NJDEP. While attacks are rare, if a black bear attacks, fight back.
Black bear damage or aggressive bears can be reported to your local police department or to NJDEP Fish and Wildlife at 1-877-927-6337.

source