A bear was spotted moving through Madison on Friday, July 24, passing near the Madison Recycling Center and the wooded campus of Drew University.
The Borough of Madison posted an alert on its official X account that morning, confirming the animal was not behaving aggressively. Officials described the bear as displaying typical bear activity.
No follow-up alert or all-clear has been issued as of Tuesday, July 28.
The bear's current location is unknown.
Bear safety guidance from NJ DEP
Bears have been documented in the Madison-Chatham corridor before. Chatham Township Police recorded a bear traveling from Rolling Hill Drive and Overlook Road into Madison in October 2018. Statewide, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection says confirmed sightings have been recorded in all 21 counties as the black bear population has expanded southward and eastward from northwestern New Jersey since the 1980s.
The NJ DEP advises residents who encounter a bear to:
- Remain calm and do not run.
- Avoid direct eye contact.
- Back away slowly.
- Make noise to alert the bear to your presence.
- Never feed or approach a bear.
The most common bear-related problem in New Jersey is bears getting into household garbage, according to the DEP. Securing trash cans and removing outdoor food sources are the most effective deterrents.
How to report bear activity
Residents who observe bear damage or nuisance behavior can call the NJ DEP's 24-hour hotline at 1-877-927-6337 (1-877-WARN DEP).
