Bear shot, escapes authorities in Denville

DENVILLE - A bear that broke into a Denville basement and resisted police attempts to chase it into the woods eventually was shot Monday afternoon before escaping into the woods with what state officials determined was a superficial and non-life-threatening wound, according to township police.

Police fired additional "conditioning shots" with rubber bullets designed to steer the bear away from residents, according to Capt. Paul Nigro. Those shots were successful, but police and agents from the state Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish and Wildlife were unable to locate the bear after searching for several hours, Nigro said.

The shots were warranted because of the bear's entry into a home, classifying it as a Category 1 bear  "exhibiting behavior that is an immediate threat to human safety, those causing agricultural damage to farmland or property damage over $1,000," according to DEP guidelines.

"These (Category 1) bears are euthanized as soon as possible to protect the public or eliminate further damage to agricultural crops or property," the DEP guidelines state.

According to Nigro, police went to the area of Riverside Drive on a report of a bear eating garbage. When an officer saw a broken basement window in one residence, he looked inside and "saw a bear inside, staring back at him," Nigro said.

Police entered the unoccupied home in attempt to chase the bear outside, and opened a door connecting the crawlspace-like basement to the garage. Police then tried to chase the bear away from the neighborhood and across the Rockaway River into a wooded area, but instead, it immediately moved to a neighboring home and began eating out of a garbage can there.

Following DEP guidelines, after continued attempts to chase the bear were unsuccessful, an officer  was instructed to shoot it. Nigro said the shot, taken from about 20 yards, wounded the bear in the shoulder.

The conditioning shots that followed finally chased the bear into the woods, at which point Fish and Wildlife agents joined police in trying to track the bear to determine its condition and treat its wound if necessary.

The hours-long search was unsuccessful, but a Fish and Wildlife biologist on the scene determined by observing the blood trail that the wound was likely superficial and the bear would likely  recover on its own.

A DEP representative added that the blood drops seen on the trail diminished to "very small"  about half a mile from where the bear had been shot.

In addition to home entries, other behaviors exhibited by black bears that require Category 1 status include human attacks, tent entries, agricultural crop damage and attacks on or kills of protected large and small livestock, beehives or pets.

Fish and Wildlife offers tips to minimize conflicts with bears. They include:

• Securing your trash and eliminate obvious sources of food, such as pet food on decks, easy-to-reach bird feeders, or food residues left in barbecue grills.

• Using certified bear-resistant garbage containers if possible. Otherwise, store all garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids and place them along the inside walls of your garage, or in the basement, a sturdy shed or other secure area.

• Washing garbage containers frequently with a disinfectant solution to remove odors. Put out garbage on collection day, not the night before.

• Avoid feeding birds when bears are active. If you choose to feed birds, do so during daylight hours only and bring feeders indoors at night. Suspend birdfeeders from a free-hanging wire, making sure they are at least 10 feet off the ground. Clean up spilled seeds and shells daily.

• Immediately remove all uneaten food and food bowls used by pets fed outdoors.

• Clean outdoor grills and utensils to remove food and grease residue. Store grills securely.

• Do not place meat or any sweet foods in compost piles.

• Remove fruit or nuts that fall from trees in your yard.

• Install electric fencing as an effective way to protect crops, beehives and livestock.

• If you encounter a bear that is standing its ground, remain calm and do not run. Make sure the bear has an escape route. Avoid direct eye contact, back up slowly and speak with a low, assertive voice.

• Residents should report bear damage, nuisance behavior or aggressive bears to the DEP Hotline at 877-WARN-DEP (877-927-6337) or their local police department.

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-917-9242; wwesthoven@GannettNJ.com.