Bear spotted walking upright is real, and probably injured, officials say

NJ.com ^ | 8-8-14 | Alex Napoliello

[afraidfortherepublic]

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP — A bear walking upright around a township development that has become an Internet sensation is injured and needs to be left alone, according to wildlife officials monitoring the situation.

The black bear has an injury to both front legs, including its paws and possibly an elbow, said Tracy Leaver, the executive director of the Woodlands Wildlife Refuge.

There's no official cause of how the bear got injured. Kelcey Burguess, a black bear biologist with the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, said he most likely "got hit by a car."

Burguess said the bear is expected to make a full recovery. "He's exhibiting signs of healing and becoming more mobile. He's going to be just fine."

At this point, officials will not interfere in the situation and let the bear heal on its own. However, they will continue to monitor the animal.

As for the residents in the area, they are the best source of information, Burguess said. "We ask the residents to let us know how things are going, they live in the area. They can tell us more than anything."

Tracy Leaver stressed that if people are going to observe him, they need to do it at a distance.

"The attention is causing more stress for him," Leaver said. "Any observation has to come from a safe distance."

The worst thing someone can do in this situation is feed the bear, Leaver said. He will become a "problem bear" if he gets used to having food provided to him, she said.

[kingu]

He will become a "problem bear" if he gets used to having food provided to him, she said.

Transiting through the neighborhood during daylight hours, checking trash cans and going through back yards? I'm sorry, I think the 'problem bear' threshold has already been crossed.

[lee martell]

Michelle! You need to stop playing. Don’t you have other things to do with your time until the next vacation? What about all those snack food vending machines you nagged the high schools to throw out, in favor of everybody’s favorite, Yogurt-Spinach Wraps? You should be over at the high schools, supervising, before they throw more of those twinkies and ding-dongs into the school furnace.
You could be eatin those!!

[Usagi_yo]

two doors down from my brother. No, he didn’t see it.

[relictele]

Wildlife officials earn (?) a handsome tax-funded salary for occasionally telling people to leave wildlife alone. Duh.

It’s a living.

[mikrofon]

The urinals at the border Rest Centers are designed that way ....

[Terry L Smith]

The first time I saw this video, what came to mind was folklore, ‘from the old ones’, about ‘skinwalkers’.

Looking closely, the walking bear’s left paw is hanging a little too loose.

Hope the bear can be caught, and if it is needed, to be healed.