Bears

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peteg

New Member
Hi all,

Was just wondering people views on how common bears are in the local parks and what you do to be prepared? I'm relatively new in NJ and whilst i saw a few bears whilst riding last year, they were always thankfully from a long distance

I was out riding this morning when i heard a big rustle of the bushes and a small bear (although to me it looked massive!!), came bolting out of the trees about 40 metres ahead of me running towards me! I slammed on the brakes, cussing loudly from the fright, and the bear stopped. he held his ground and i slowly backed off the way i was coming from. After walking back slowly about 20 steps, i had slowly turned around aswell and jumped on the bike and rode back the way i was coming from. After riding away a fair distance, i braved a glimpse behind and the bear was in the same spot.

So Im hoping this is a rare occurrence - but is there anything to do/carry to be better prepared (eg is it worth taking pepper spray etc)?

Thanks
 
Bears are a common sight in northern NJ. They are not a problem, don't worry about it. I've run into bears a couple of hundred times (I see them in my yard all the time) and only once had one that scared me. I'd carry something that makes a really loud noise if I was going to carry something.

bruce b.
 
randomgrizzly-bear-warning-sign.jpg
😀
 
I run into them all the time too. It's a good sign that the bear attempted to warn you by rustling trees before charging - that means (from what I'm told) that is a defensive and most likely bluff charge. Stay calm knowing the bear warned you and slowly back out - you can raise the bike above your head to appear larger. I've heard mixed advise whether to yell or speak softly to the bear. I personally speak softly.

If the bear doesn't seem to stop, drop something like your pack because the bear will stop to investigate it.

I had two of those bluff charges in 2007 while riding alone and both times the bears gave me warning (one slammed his paws and the second rustled trees). This is pure Animal Channel chatter but it appears I just didn't stop in time, thus prompting the bear charge. Now I ride more slowly when alone, with bear bells, carry an airhorn, sometimes talk out load to myself, and never with any food (no nutrition bars, no cookies, nothing!)

I ran into my first bear of the season on Friday at Waway. Oddly I crossed a racer preriding the course and 20 yards behind him was a bear about 300 - 400 lbs - very big and really woolly, didn't look hungry at all from hibernating. I don't think the racer even knew it was there.
 
Pointboy said:
Where was this? I see them often in Wayway
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I was out in Ringwood - although where I had this encounter was on trails that were more over towards the vicinity of Bear Swamp Brook.
Thanks for the advice all! Sounds like a bluff charge, but still enough to give a nasty fright 😉
 
I've seen bears at Mahlon and KVSP and most encounters were mothers with cubs. They knew I was there before I saw them with no bad results. At Mahlon I came upon a curious loner that looked confused so I got off the bike to show that I was a human and not a meal on wheels. Some profanity and another rider approaching was enough to run him off. Enjoy the sightings and be aware of your surroundings.
 
peteg said:
I was out in Ringwood - although where I had this encounter was on trails that were more over towards the vicinity of Bear Swamp Brook.
Thanks for the advice all! Sounds like a bluff charge, but still enough to give a nasty fright 😉
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We saw a big black bear this morning at Ringwood, also.
It was hanging on the side of the fireroad going up toward Weble Pond. It woudnt move and started to snort. 2 snorts and I was outta there.
Quickly, but slowly backed away then raced down the fireroad.

From that point on I kept hearing noises in the brush. The bear messed up my typical loop 🙂
 
I had a class a year or so go with the former director of Fish and Wildlife. His advice was back away slowly, hold your bike up high, and make alot of noise.


Oh and if they charge stand your ground and make much noise. Running will make your situation worse

(slight derail)

NJ has 3 times as many bears as was planned under the bear management plan for the state, created when the bear hunts were proposed a couple years back. Because bears have not been hunted in so long they no longer associate people with danger and now associate them with food, which could cause some problems down the line. As a state we used to have bears coming into the state from NY/PA, but now they are reaching carrying capacity in the state and leaving to NY/PA.

Between the mountain lions and bears northern NJ scares me. I rode high point and stokes and every other tree was marked above head height.
 
BiknBen said:
Freakin hillarious! :hysterica

With a cameo of Shaniqwa too? :hysterica:hysterica:hysterica
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Shaniqua?
Lola maybe 'cause that dude is god-awful ugly.

Deezul said:
Between the mountain lions and bears northern NJ scares me. I rode high point and stokes and every other tree was marked above head height.
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I'd be much less concerned over the mountain lions than the bears but I'd take either of them over the drug dealers in the cities.
 
Deezul said:
I had a class a year or so go with the former director of Fish and Wildlife. His advice was back away slowly, hold your bike up high, and make alot of noise.


Oh and if they charge stand your ground and make much noise. Running will make your situation worse

(slight derail)

NJ has 3 times as many bears as was planned under the bear management plan for the state, created when the bear hunts were proposed a couple years back. Because bears have not been hunted in so long they no longer associate people with danger and now associate them with food, which could cause some problems down the line. As a state we used to have bears coming into the state from NY/PA, but now they are reaching carrying capacity in the state and leaving to NY/PA.

Between the mountain lions and bears northern NJ scares me. I rode high point and stokes and every other tree was marked above head height.
Click to expand...

Mountain Lions?
 
I still do NOT believe we have mountain lions in the tate of NJ.But others disagree,yet we have seen no proof.Much like the "jersey devil".:popcorn:
 
kidzach said:
I still do NOT believe we have mountain lions in the tate of NJ.But others disagree,yet we have seen no proof.Much like the "jersey devil".:popcorn:
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That's cause the few people who didn't believe they existed never came back once they encountered one:popcorn:
 
i rode last year in leavenworth WA and jackson hole, WY.

after climbing 2000 feet on a logging rode, we encountered a sign posted at the start of singletrack saying the trail was closed due to aggressive cougar. Apparently, two separate incidents happened according to USFS ranger where a lion chased bikers. in one, a biker used his bike between the lion and himself as the lion swatted at his wheels before running off.

Every bike store in Jackson hole sells bear (pepper) spray. Rather than ride alone, i opted for lift-serviced rides at Grand Targhee.
 
kidzach said:
I still do NOT believe we have mountain lions in the tate of NJ.But others disagree,yet we have seen no proof.Much like the "jersey devil".:popcorn:
Click to expand...

Big difference JD is a myth and Mt.lions are real. Don't feel like getting into it, it's like beating a dead horse...
 
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