Suz16

Just after a bit of advice from those of you living in New Jersey. . . .we are currently in furnished temporary accomodation until our sea shipment arrives, we've been looking at more long term rental houses.

The areas we have been looking in are quite rural. . .Basking Ridge, Mendham, Randolph, Mount Olive and Chester amongst others, and we have seen lots of houses which back onto woodland / forest areas. Very pretty but I am worried about bears! Also concerned that not many houses seem to have fenced in back gardens? We have two young children.

Our realtor has advised us that yes, you have to be careful here but that it shouldn't put us off renting a house in a wooded area.

Would be interested in any thoughts on this.

notonuksoil

The bears don't worry if the garden is fenced in or not they go where they want

We have a few friends in and around NJ and every year at least a couple of them have a funny bear incident story - apparently having two metal dustbin lids handy helps!

Jerseygirl

I don't know whether a fence would stop a bear. Don't leave anything outside that would attract bears, coyotes etc. I don't see kids playing outside too often...their spare time is usually taken up with organised activities or visiting relatives. I have seen a bear in Jockey Hollow but not on our property...although we have had coyotes and foxes.

I am more concerned about deer ticks and Lyme Disease.

mum 2 3

I haven't seen a bear since the end of November but there must have been one in the garden Sunday as he left some evidence. I went to the annual town bear meeting at the beginning of October and was told we might see one and to make yourself bigger and noisy to scare it off. After that I used to see them most weeks. We had a mummy and 4 babies in the garden a couple of times, but they just kind of amble through. They have a destination they are heading for and are usually just passing. I thought they were quite sweet and got a few pictures. The next week I was walking back to my car after dropping the kids off and daddy bear came out from my right and crossed the road in fron of me. He wasn't as cute

When they were being seen every day people got a bit worried and so in November they had a cull. There had been no incidents but it was just getting too regular. They come for food so you are supposed to keep garbage indoors until the morning of collection and not put any food out for birds.

I have no problem letting my kids out to play (all kids play out here) They know to come in if they see one but I have been assured they are not aggressive and think the noise my kids make they wouldn't come if they were in the garden anyway? That said if the numbers pick up again like last year they will probably do something about them.

Jerseygirl

Whoa!!

We keep our bin in the garage. Sealed bin bags are placed in a larger black bin bag...I spray the bin with Lysol every time I go into the bin. Never had a problem with the bin smelling or with bugs etc...even in summer.

Speedwell

Gun control!

sorry ....

Michael

Your chances of being attacked and injured by a dog or hitting a large animal (primarily deer) with your car greatly out numbers any possible chance of being attacked by a bear. Bear attacks are extremely rare.

Bob

But don't leave peanut butter sandwiches out in your car or you might find it wrecked.

Happened to FIL one summer, with the added bonus that the bear took a dump on his seat afterwards.

He'd only nipped out to use the loos This was out in the woods though and up in Maine.

ottotheboar

We have no fences and the bears do not bother us, the dogs bark at them.
I would rather have a bear than a skunk spray round the house any day.
Most of the time a bear will watch you from the woods.
It is a good thing they are not aggressive black bears run fast.
We are told if they area nuisance let off a couple of loud fireworks to scare them off.

Jerseygirl

One of daughter's teachers has poor vision. One evening she walked down the drive to bring her standard poodle indoors...as she got close she realised it wasn't her dog but a bear.

jeffreyhy

I expect that you got those pictures from a distance? A mother with cubs is a very dangerous creature, be that mother a bear or a human, but the bear will have sharper claws and teeth. Get too close and that sweetness will vanish in an instant.

Regards, JEff

le10

Been in Mendham two years. Still not seen a bear. :-(

mum 2 3

Yes the pics were from my front porch with a long lens. A couple of weeks before I'd pulled onto our drive just as the 5 of them came over the wall into my garden from next door. I made the kids stay in the car but got out with my phone to take a picture as they had gone round the side of the house. Luckily they were heading out the other side as I didn't think till later how stupid that was That was only the week after the bear meeting, I think they reassured us so much how they weren't a danger I was a bit complacent.

AdobePinon

If you surprise them, yes. Otherwise, a mother bear with cubs who is aware of your presence usually acts in a non-ferocious manner.

Black bears are not usually aggressive. But they can become nasty if they get used to stealing food from your 'hood. So, as mentioned above, don't leave anything resembling food outside, or in your car on the street.

Grizzlies are totally different and have been known to go hunting for specific people weeks after said people have pissed them off.

Jerseygirl

Really...I thought they were at their most dangerous when their cubs were around.