Posted on 06/23/2026 5:25:07 AM PDT by xxqqzz
Anthony Puglisi, Essex County’s public information director, said that, at around noon the bear entered Essex County Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange.
When the bear was spotted in the zoo, Puglisi said employees and visitors were directed to shelter in place in buildings on zoo property.
“At no time did the bear come in contact with any humans, and everyone was safely evacuated from the zoo with assistance from the Essex County Sheriff’s Office,” Puglisi said.
The zoo was closed for the rest of Monday as authorities worked to track the bear. NJ Fish and Wildlife were notified.
The sighting was not the first in the South Mountain Reservation. In June 2024, a bear trapped a mother and daughter in the park’s Locust Grove section. Another bear sighting occurred in July 2024, when a bear wandered around Maplewood.
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
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Was it a bear that lived in the zoo or one from outside?
“Roast beef on a hard roll”
Maybe it was looking for the bathroom................
Ah the Turtle Back Zoo. Recall those scenes with Tony Soprano meeting his GF, the car sales person, there.
Wow. Turtle Back zoo. I have not been there since I was a kid!
Ddin’t Ritchie Aprile have something to say about Turtle Back Zoo to Tony’s sister?
This is funny. Really funny.
We had a bear in our driveway at 4:09 AM two mornings ago...we sheltered in place with our heads on pillows.
It’s that time of year here in Montana.
invader
Bear: “I’ve heard you humans have these things called ‘zoos,’ which offer free rooms, medical care, and food for bears. I’ve come to apply. Life in the woods is hard!”
Just looking for pic nik baskets.🤔
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