Police Try to Push NJ Bear Into Nearby Forest

A bear spotted in one South Jersey community seems to be on the move.

Waterford Township, Camden County, police received multiple reports from people in the area of Raritan Avenue, Ellwood Avenue and 3rd Street about a bear wandering in yards Thursday morning.

Waterford Police posted a video to Facebook where they tracked the bear in an attempt to steer the animal towards the Wharton State forest. They said the drove parallel to the bear, blowing air horns in hopes of getting the bear out of the neighborhood.

In the Facebook video you see the bear walking across yards and past some school buses before darting across the road.

Police said the bear hasn’t been seen since 10 a.m. Thursday.

Investigators told NBC10 they believe it’s the same black bear that was spotted Wednesday in Winslow Township.

Investigators say the animal was first spotted Wednesday morning along Wharton Avenue in the Elm section of the town. The second sighting took place around 4 p.m. in the Waterford Works section of the township.

New Jersey wildlife officials told NBC!0 that the sighting of bears this time of year, especially male bears, is because the animals are trying to stake out their territory before they mate. They said that sightings are possible until weather cools in the fall.

If you spot the bear, please call the Winslow Township Police Department at (609) 561-3300 or the Division of Fish and Wildlife at 1 (877) 927-6337.

Click here to view bear safety tips.

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