Stay Inside Due To Bear Sighting, Hillsdale Police Warn Residents

HILLSDALE, NJ — Police in Hillsdale warned residents of one neighborhood to stay inside on Sunday night as a black bear was spotted in the area.

"The Hillsdale Police Department is advising residents of a black bear sighting on the west side of town in the area of Ann Blanche Smith School," the police posted on social media before 7 p.m. "Animal Control has been notified and is responding."

They added, "Residents in the area are advised to remain indoors if possible and do not approach or attempt to follow the bear. Please keep children and pets inside."

The school is located on Hillsdale Avenue.

Bear Warnings

Bears usually stay away from humans, experts say, but have killed people and pets in New Jersey.

In May 2024, a bear killed a Chihuahua and injured another dog in Sparta.

In 2020, a black bear attacked an 82-year-old man in his garage in West Milford. The bear was euthanized.

In 2014, a black bear killed a Rutgers University student at a nature preserve in New Jersey.

And in 2002, a bear took a baby girl from her stroller in the Catskills and killed her.

The state's "Bear Bear Aware" site suggests that it's best to avoid leaving food out. If you see a bear, make noise to scare it away.

If attacked, don't "play dead"; instead, fight back. To read more about what to do and who to call if you see a bear, click here.

Last year, Mahwah High School students decided to raise awareness about how to react when a bear appears, trying to educate children and reduce the risks. The students brought their book, "The Adventures of Bergen the Bear," to local schools.

Black bears have been sighted around Bergen County over the past few months. READ MORE: Black Bear Spotted In Bergen County Town, Mayor Warns