[New Jersey] Bear attack takes on greater menace; Teens pawed and bitten by prowling cub

Newark Star-Ledger ^ | November 19, 2004 | BRIAN T. MURRAY

[d-back]

The encounter last weekend between three bears and two Boy Scouts at a camp in Warren County was more harrowing than originally reported, as the bears pawed at the teenagers for an hour, bit one of them and attempted to bite the other, according to a report by state wildlife investigators.

The boys, who were later vaccinated for rabies, cowered on a rock as they fended off the two 60-pound cubs and the mother bear at the Yards Creek Scout Reservation in Blairstown on Saturday night, wildlife investigators said.

One of the boys was bitten twice by a cub. The animal first bit down on the boy's left arm -- leaving four scratch marks as the youth pulled away -- and then bit the boy's right hand, leaving three puncture wounds, according to a Division of Fish and Wildlife report obtained by The Star-Ledger on Wednesday. The second boy escaped injury when the second cub bit his coat sleeve -- but missed his arm -- and tried to pull him off the rock, the report said.

The state Department of Environmental Protection did not release the report until last night -- after being pressed by The Star-Ledger-- leaving officials from the Central New Jersey Council of the Boy Scouts to field questions about the incident. The council initially reported the incident as a brief, minor encounter with two bears, and said only one bear had "scratched" a scout's hand before the cubs ran off. . . .

[ZULU]

I'd prefer a good shotgun with 00 buckshot, a .30-06 rifle or a .44 magnum, thank you.

Or even a good Hawkin rifle of .54 caliber or so.

[nmh]

This explains it:

"News of the weekend attack spread quickly throughout Warren and Sussex counties, and the DEP's refusal to release details until last night has led to allegations by the Federation of New Jersey Sportsmen's Clubs that DEP Commissioner Bradley Campbell has been suppressing information on clashes between bears and humans."

"Campbell had tried to thwart a bear hunt for next month that was authorized by the independent state Fish and Game Council. However, an appeals court ruled Tuesday that Campbell does not have the authority to block the hunt. Campbell is pursuing another legal battle to close state lands to the six-day bruin hunt, scheduled to begin Dec. 6."

[tcostell]

I'm a hunter who wanted to participate in the Bear hunt but won't because the lawyers in New Jersey make it too risky. I'm not afraid of being shot during hunting season, more people die playing basketball every year. I'm afraid of violating some vague and arbitrary regulation and being fined or having my weapons and vehicle impounded.

I'm going to do all my hunting in NY and PA.

Good luck to you folks in a hunt zone. And remember, if you seea Bear, make sure you have a lawyer present before attempting to defend yourself.

[Freemeorkillme]

Same hear. I live next to Bear Swamp. I'm stocked up on various rounds for my 12. We see bear at least 2 a week, in fact, I nearly hit one with my vehicle on the way home from work 2 nights ago. It tore across the road in front of me at a blinding speed. My vehicle would have been toast, but, hehheh, I would've had bear meat and souvenirs

[sandalwood]

Please don't minimize the danger here in NJ Not only from the wildlife but from the brainless bureaucrats.

True indeed. Duly noted.

[ZULU]

"And remember, if you seea Bear, make sure you have a lawyer present before attempting to defend yourself."

Preferably a big, fat, juicy, old one you can out run!!

[d-back]

Yeah, Montclair is chock full of Left Wing morons. Maplewood's pretty bad too, OldFriend, from what I read.

You're lucky out west, Pharmboy. The pinhead liberal quotient tends to even out as you head west on Route 80 toward Pennsylvania. . .

[Nachum]

Oh, for a moment I thought you were referring to the Chicago Bears.

Never mind.

[Born to Conserve]

If you act like prey, they'll act like predators. If you act like predators, they'll act like prey.

If a black bear is bothering you, act aggressively.

And don't feed wild animals (can't believe this needs to be said).

Those cubs have learned from these wussie scouts that people are prey, now the bears have to be destroyed.

[d-back]

Bingo, NMH! Bradley Campbell, the head of DEP, is against the bear hunt because he (and former Governor McGreevey, of "I am a Gay American" fame) got pressure from the PETA and HSUS animal "rights" morons after last year's hunt. So he tried to stymie this year's hunt, even though it was duly approved by the Fish & Wildlife Council.

Fortunately, about a week ago, a New Jersey Appellate Division panel ruled against Campbell and in favor of the hunt.

[Pearls Before Swine]

What kind of mother stands around and lets her cubs behave like this? It reminds me of the scene near the end of Jurassic Park II, where the mother Tyrannosaurus is showing her little dino how to eat the jerky bad guy in the hold of the boat.

[7.62 x 51mm]

LOL!

Ahhhhh, in the good old days (early 60s) with Ernie Banks and Hamm's Beer ('From the land of sky blue waters...') in Wrigley Field.

[ZULU]

"If a black bear is bothering you, act aggressively."

Easier said than done when facing a fanged menace with ten raking claws, which can reach 600 + pounds, out run you and climb a tree faster than you can.

On the other hand, its much easier to assume the "predator" stance with a handy shooting iron in your hands.

[d-back]

"Wussie Scouts"???

Cut them some slack. They're kids, for crying out loud, not Daniel Freakin' Boone.

[paulcissa]

Incidents like this will only go on until someone there IS killed by a bear.

Unfortunately, I have to agree. I've already lost one dog to them, I'm not losing any more members of my family to black bear, in spite of Communist Campbell or any other politician. I'll take my chances and pay the price to defend myself and my family from a problem created by the ineptitude of our state's government.

When a toddler is mauled/killed by a bear in NWNJ, that childs blood will on the hands of Bradley Campbell.

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

I live in Blairstown, and I have a bear that roams behind my house. I have never had a problem with the bear.

[zoobee]

WHy would the kids get this close to them? Sue the parents for the kids 4 scratches.

[XRdsRev]

I wouldn't be surprised if Michael Strahan also voted for Bush. He and his wife live in Monclair and I know he was pretty good friends with Jason Sehorn, so maybe he is a Republican too.

[Pharmboy]

I learn so much at FR. Even though I am armed, shooting a bear in NJ (out of season) is bad news--for the shooter!

Thanks for the link--I just ordered a can of the spray.

[ZULU]

Congratulations.

Your bear likes you.

With any luck, he won't learn to like you too much.