On Monday morning, a bear visited Montclair. Resident Jen Hager provided photos of the bear exploring her backyard on Edgecliff Road.
Hager said her friend, who lives on Crestmont Road, also saw the bear by her home.
Montclair’s Animal Control office confirmed they had received calls about the sighting, but could not provide any other information.
On Monday afternoon, the Township of Verona posted the following alert on its social media pages:
ALERT VERONA: Confirmed bear sighting in Montclair. If a bear is observed in Verona, keep your distance, do not approach, and notify VPD 973-239-5000
The NJ Department of Environmental Protection advises residents to report black bear damage or nuisance behavior to the DEP’s 24-hour, toll-free hotline at 1-877-WARN DEP (1-877-927-6337).
This isn’t the first time a bear has been seen in Montclair. In 2022, a black bear was spotted in the area of Gates Avenue before New Jersey Fish and Wildlife tranquilized the animal. They moved the bear to a different county to be released.
The year before, two bears spent a summer day in town by helping themselves to bird feed and strolling through Eagle Rock Reservation.
