Shelter-in-place at school marks latest bear encounter in North Jersey
A small bear cub was spotted near Manchester Regional High School, prompting a brief shelter-in-place Thursday and marking the latest bear encounter in the region, said an advisory issued by the Haledon Police Department.
The bear was seen near the campus, leading the administration to take immediate precautionary measures to ensure the safety of students and staff. The shelter-in-place was lifted shortly after authorities confirmed that the bear had retreated to the woods.
"The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife has been notified of the sighting," the advisory said. "We encourage all students, staff, and visitors to remain vigilant and adhere to bear encounter safety tips."
The Police Department provided several guidelines to follow in case of a bear encounter:
Avoid direct eye contact and do not run from the bear. Instead, slowly back away.
Make loud noises, such as yelling or banging objects, to scare the bear away. Stand close together with arms raised if with someone else.
If the bear displays warning behaviors like huffing or jaw popping, back away slowly, avoiding direct eye contact.
Move to a secure area if the bear does not leave.
Never feed or approach a bear.
Stay calm and make your presence known by speaking assertively, singing, or clapping hands.
Ensure that the bear has a clear escape route.
The advisory emphasized the importance of securing garbage and never feeding or approaching bears, to prevent further incidents.
A bear was spotted in nearby Hawthorne on May 8. A bear also killed a dog in Sparta earlier this month.
For additional information and safety tips, the public is encouraged to contact the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Haledon NJ school shelters in place due to bear sighting
