Mother bear shot after biting Dover cop

An off-duty Dover police officer was compelled to shoot a bear that bit him while he was hunting for deer Tuesday in Allamuchy State Park, state and municipal sources confirmed Thursday.

Officer Walter Michalski shot and severely wounded the bear after it bit him on the leg and would not let go, according the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

"It was not a bear attack," said DEP spokesperson Larry Ragonese. "It was an unfortunate confluence of events for both the hunter and the bear."

According to a report filed by agents of the DEP division of Fish and Wildlife, Michalski was hunting with a small group in a deeply forested area of Allamuchy State Park in Allamuchy Township on Tuesday. At about 11:15 a.m., Michalski stepped on and over a large fallen tree. When he stepped off, he stepped on a large female bear.

SEE VIDEO: > 2 bear cubs rescued http://dailyre.co/1IQXW0P

"The bear was denning in an alcove under the tree and couldn't be seen," Ragonese said.

The bear, which was accompanied by four cubs, responded by biting Michalski.

SEE PHOTOS: > Up close look at rescued bear cubs http://dailyre.co/1C8M6Pk

"It was biting his foot and he was unable to extricate himself," Ragonese said.

At that moment, Michalski fired his hunting rifle twice at the bear, severely wounding it, according to the report.

A member of the hunting party called 911 and the response included the Fish and Wildlife agents, who located the bear and euthanized it by shooting it.

Ragonese said "In in the scuffle, the female bear apparently crushed and killed two of the cubs."

The two surviving cubs were taken to Woodlands Wildlife Refuge in Hunterdon County. The refuge posted videos of the infant cubs, estimated to be about one week old, on its Facebook page and announced donations would be accepted through its website www.woodlandswildlife.org.

Investigators at the scene reported that the licensed and experienced hunters acted appropriately to the chance encounter. No charges were filed.

Rich Rosell, director of the Public Safety Department in Dover, confirmed Michalski sustained puncture wounds to his ankle. Michaslki could not be reached for comment.

DEP's Fish and Game council reported that 272 bears were killed during a six-day bear hunt in December. The annual hunts, established in 2010 to curb the increasing black bear population in northern and western portions of New Jersey. The hunts have helped to reduce the estimated bear population there from 3,400 in 2010 to approximately 2,200 to 2,500 in 2014.

Most of the bears are found in areas west of Route 287 and North of Route 78.

Despite the hunts, bear sightings have become commonplace, especially in Morris, Sussex, Passaic and Warren counties, not only in rural areas but in highly populated suburban neighborhoods.

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-428-6627; wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com.

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