OT: Who Killed NJ's "Pedals the Bear"?

[RUbarb Pi]

I guess you could always NOT build in their area, then there would be far less of a need for management. Also, as an environmental major, environmental management through hunting is not the best way to thin the populations. They should be thinned like predators do, taking the weak/sick/old........more often than not hunters take members of the healthy, breeding population. As such, the bears are genetically weaker after such exercises.

What are the predators of bear? Here in NJ probably cars and hunters. We don't need timber wolves imported as we already have a coyote population explosion. The eastern coyotes are larger than the western variety. Have you ever sat in the field and seen a coyote and had to wonder if somebody's german shepherd got loose? I would not be surprised to see an eventual coyote season that is yearlong.

 

[RU4Real]

A guy in Winslow Twp. caught on a trail camera what appears very much to be a mountain lion. There have been reported mountain lion sightings in Monmouth, Ocean and Burlington counties for years, but this is the first time that any demonstrative proof has been gathered.

If so, it means that the wildlife dynamic in NJ has truly changed over the last few decades.

 

[zappaa]

I'd love to be lucky enough to see a Bobcat in NJ… has anyone? I know they're here.

 

[RU4Real]

I'd love to be lucky enough to see a Bobcat in NJ… has anyone? I know they're here.

From what I've read there are a couple hundred individuals scattered across the most remote sections of north & northwest NJ. Bobcats are super elusive, if at all possible they avoid contact with people.

 

[RU1977]

How many bears were there (500 less now I guess)? How many bears constitute an OK number of bears such that thinning out isn't necessary? If there were 1500, and now there are 1000, is that an OK number? Is there a min/max number that needs to be maintained?

 

[zappaa]

From what I've read there are a couple hundred individuals scattered across the most remote sections of north & northwest NJ. Bobcats are super elusive, if at all possible they avoid contact with people.

Anyone had any misadventures running into a Jackson White clan?

 

[RUScrew85]

Just wanted to add I read my Ignored people in this thread. Great to see so many of you still acting like smug idiots. ; )

 

[mdh2003]

I'm deeply saddened whenever an animal is killed. However, I also believe that wildlife management through hunting is necessary. Nothing is more heartbreaking than seeing a deer writhing in agony after being hit by a car. It stays with you for a long time. I know that police routinely shoot bears that are hit by cars also.

Last week dropping my kids to day care, the admin rushed in the room and said - "Close your blinds NOW". Teacher complied and we were both huh? Walking out, the admin told me don't worry about any shots heard - the police are putting down a car-hit deer just out back. Made me think of the Napoleon Dynamite cow/school-bus scene.

 

[RUbarb Pi]

I'd love to be lucky enough to see a Bobcat in NJ… has anyone? I know they're here.

Trappers occasionally snare bobcats. Fish & Wildlife personnel are called to come and release them.

 

[gef21]

How many bears were there (500 less now I guess)? How many bears constitute an OK number of bears such that thinning out isn't necessary? If there were 1500, and now there are 1000, is that an OK number? Is there a min/max number that needs to be maintained?

This is what I wonder also. What is our bear population? What is the ideal population? What is the number of human and bear interactions?

 

[Kbee3]

Just wanted to add I read my Ignored people in this thread. Great to see so many of you still acting like smug idiots. ; )

I'm sure they love you too.
BTW, I hope you got to this thread prior to the censoring done by management. Some great stuff disappeared.

 

[mdh2003]

Agreed (also saw a dog but never saw the body) but, in a way (I guess as the argument goes) not as bad as an deer starving for weeks during a snowy winter when it can't get at food (while that same deer now could feed several people for a long time. Also saw similar recently on one of the Discovery Channel "Alaska" shows. Family had a cow they were fairly certain wouldn't make it through the winter, the cow at that instant could stlll be used for its meat. Father killed the cow. Sad and perhaps unwarranted by our standards-being merciful and thinking of survival on that family's part.

 

[gef21]

The estimated bear population in NJ (in 2015) was just under 4000. It was estimated to be 100 in the 80s. The largest problem with bears is them going into the garbage in communities. In 2014 there was just under 3000 bear complaints and in 2015 there was an 8% drop.

 

[RUbarb Pi]

How many bears were there (500 less now I guess)? How many bears constitute an OK number of bears such that thinning out isn't necessary? If there were 1500, and now there are 1000, is that an OK number? Is there a min/max number that needs to be maintained?

Wasn't there an estimated maximum number of 3200 bears in the original bear hunting zones of #s 1, 2, 3 & 4 ? My quick math would be of those 3200 bears about 1600 are females. If 800 of the 1600 females are bred and have a minimum of two cubs and 50% of those survive to be two years old, you have 800 more bears each year. Those bear hunt years that only provide less than three hundred bears harvested are nowhere near keeping up with the population growth. The bear number harvested in this year's early hunt is just a drop in the bucket.

 

[gef21]

Wasn't there an estimated maximum number of 3200 bears in the original bear hunting zones of #s 1, 2, 3 & 4 ? My quick math would be of those 3200 bears about 1600 are females. If 800 of the 1600 females are bred and have a minimum of two cubs and 50% of those survive to be two years old, you have 800 more bears each year. Those bear hunt years that only provide less than three hundred bears harvested are nowhere near keeping up with the population growth. The bear number harvested in this year's early hunt are just a drop in the bucket.

I wouldn't call it a drop in the bucket but it seems that the bear harvest does allow for small population growth each year. It seems the big issue is that their is a very large food abundance (especially in northwest nj) which has lead to more female bears having 3 cubs as opposed to 2.

 

[knightfan7]

A guy in Winslow Twp. caught on a trail camera what appears very much to be a mountain lion. There have been reported mountain lion sightings in Monmouth, Ocean and Burlington counties for years, but this is the first time that any demonstrative proof has been gathered.

If so, it means that the wildlife dynamic in NJ has truly changed over the last few decades.

I haven't run into a mountain lion thank goodness. There have been numerous reports of coyotes in this area for almost a decade. A couple days after hearing one report l left the house early one morning to find one going thru the garbage a couple houses down. Thing froze when it saw me and took off when I slammed my car door.

 

[RU4Real]

I haven't run into a mountain lion thank goodness. There have been numerous reports of coyotes in this area for almost a decade. A couple days after hearing one report l left the house early one morning to find one going thru the garbage a couple houses down. Thing froze when it saw me and took off when I slammed my car door.

I saw my first coyote around here, from a distance, about 2 years ago. Saw one up close (next door neighbor's yard) 2 months ago.

There's a bear in the woods behind me, as well. Bear, coyote, deer... Like friggin' Jungle Book.

 

[gef21]

Ive seen coyotes on the way to work going through farm fields a few times this year.

I saw my first coyote around here, from a distance, about 2 years ago. Saw one up close (next door neighbor's yard) 2 months ago.

There's a bear in the woods behind me, as well. Bear, coyote, deer... Like friggin' Jungle Book.

I see coyote on the way to work a decent amount. I see bear scat all the time in the woods but luckily have never come across one in recent years.

 

[seels2662]

I'd love to be lucky enough to see a Bobcat in NJ… has anyone? I know they're here.

I have, I saw it in the woods in Jefferson. What was really cool was that it was snowing so I saw the big paws make the paw prints.

 

[ManasquanMike]

I haven't run into a mountain lion thank goodness. There have been numerous reports of coyotes in this area for almost a decade. A couple days after hearing one report l left the house early one morning to find one going thru the garbage a couple houses down. Thing froze when it saw me and took off when I slammed my car door.

Knightfan I saw a coyote years ago on Washington Ave in SG near the tennis courts. Was running back to Squan.
After Sandy fox were everywhere as I'm sure you know.

 

[yesrutgers01]

We had a coyote walking down our street this summer. We have at least one black bear sighting near bye each year...
Zap- years ago, I was bow hunting up in PinePlains NY and had a Bobcat come with ing 20 yds of me. Incredible animals and TV and Magazines do it no justice. Damn thing had my shitting my pants

 

[knightfan7]

I saw my first coyote around here, from a distance, about 2 years ago. Saw one up close (next door neighbor's yard) 2 months ago.

There's a bear in the woods behind me, as well. Bear, coyote, deer... Like friggin' Jungle Book.

I've come across bears 3 times, all on golf courses. Crystal Springs an old guy strolled across the fairway about 75-100 yards away. Berkshire Valley a cub ran across the tee about 25-30 feet away (we hightailed it out of there lest we run into an angry momma), and a really big one at Fernwood in Pa. Fortunately he was heading toward the tee as we were heading up the fairway after he came bursting out of some bushes.

 

[knightfan7]

Knightfan I saw a coyote years ago on Washington Ave in SG near the tennis courts. Was running back to Squan.
After Sandy fox were everywhere as I'm sure you know.

Yup they were. Many of us have commented how there are birds and wildlife, primarily herons, foxes, skunks, and rabbits, that seemed to appear a lot more frequently after Sandy. I'm not talking about in town but at the beach. I also see a lot more deer between Rts 35 and 71 when I'm going home from work late at night. Sea Girt Ave and by the circle on 35 especially.

 

[RU4Real]

Sadly, wherever there are bears, there will always be this guy...

 

[198hamilton]

Seels where exactly? Mahlon Dickerson?

 

[mildone]

Sadly, wherever there are bears, there will always be this guy...

That's just wrong. Bear ain't sheep.

 

[AshSaturday]

UPDATE ON PEDDLES-as I predicted the guy who claims he killed peddles (now receiving death threats on social media) did NOT kill Peddles. ***As I type this News 12 has reported that the "Peddles The Bear" Facebook page has been shut down in lieu of the threats.

In sum the peddles killer is still out there...

 

[RU4Real]

Which was my point about the violent offende

That's just wrong. Bear ain't sheep.

He was offered assistance, and declined.

 

[AshSaturday]

Re Coyotes and Bobcats. I saw a Coyote about 10 years ago halfway down Chimney Rock Road in Bridgewater (heavily wooded). Running across the road. It was a Saturday night so maybe he was headed to "The Rock" to catch a Rutgers score/game.

As for Bobcats I never saw one but bELieve I heard many times in the woods (10 acres considered 950 Brown Road) behind my old house in Bridgewater. Ditto across the street and a few times while running at night around the Sherwood Drive area. Screaming worse than a cat in heat I believe and always on the move in the woods.

My uncle used to belong to a road and gun club n Lahaska PA and is pretty sure he saw a Mountain Lion on the way home once.

 

[ruhudsonfan]

I guess you could always NOT build in their area, then there would be far less of a need for management. Also, as an environmental major, environmental management through hunting is not the best way to thin the populations. They should be thinned like predators do, taking the weak/sick/old........more often than not hunters take members of the healthy, breeding population. As such, the bears are genetically weaker after such exercises.

What does one study in an "Environmental" major? And when did the University of Phoenix begin conferring this degree of yours?

 

[mildone]

He was offered assistance, and declined.

What kind of assistance? Like a little yellow pill?

 

[RU4Real]

What kind of assistance? Like a little yellow pill?

Clearly you've never seen "Super Troopers".

 

[jim1666]

I'd love to be lucky enough to see a Bobcat in NJ… has anyone? I know they're here.

i saw one about 10 years ago in chatham in the woods near the passiac river. i was walking my dogs. the bobcat jumped over a stream that feeds the river. it was dusk and there were a lot of bright yellow leaves floating on the water. i could see a perfect sillhouette. after he got out of the open he crouched down and stared at us. i could see the points on ears and his big front shoulders. the dogs never saw him. one of my dogs barked at another dog shortly after and the cat disappeared into the woods. i have never seen one since.

 

[198hamilton]

Would love to see a bobcat. I see bears weekly, part or all of a group of 40 turkeys every other day, fox every other week, coyotes now and then. Broad winged hawks have nested 200 feet into the woods every year for the last thirteen. Screech owls calling every night. But never a bobcat.

Bears are not even acknowledged in our neighborhood. The most you might do is yell "bear" if you know someone is playing in the yard with little kids. I know in other places the police, fire dept., swat team, hazmat unit , national guard and helicopters are dispatched. If you called the police in my town upon seeing a bear they would say "OK you cuff him"

 

[RUHotTrumpetMonkeyLove]

My father is an avid hunter. Yeah, we've had bear burgers at our tailgates, but not for many years. It's no London broil, but if seasoned properly they do just fine.

 

[Extra Point]

I saw a coyote cross my back yard last year. What is amazing is how it moved. It sort of glides. Just beautiful. I have never seen a bear nor a bob cat.

 

[mildone]

Clearly you've never seen "Super Troopers".

View embedded media

Correct, never saw that. Guess he really was offered assistance.

 

[knightfan7]

I saw a coyote cross my back yard last year. What is amazing is how it moved. It sort of glides. Just beautiful. I have never seen a bear nor a bob cat.

Not my experience. The one I saw was mangy and appeared malnourished. Maybe the quality of garbage in your neighborhood is a lot healthier. Did move quickly tho.

 

[RU4Real]

Correct, never saw that. Guess he really was offered assistance.

Anyone who works in emergency services knows pretty much every line of that movie. It's like a cult thing. If you've never seen it, it's worth a rainy afternoon with a few adult beverages.

 

[ManasquanMike]

Not my experience. The one I saw was mangy and appeared malnourished. Maybe the quality of garbage in your neighborhood is a lot healthier. Did move quickly tho.

Completely agree, describes the one I saw.
Some guy was pulled over taking a photo, he thought it was a fox. It looked like a mangey German shepherd. I said, no sir its not a fox.