Crime & Safety

UPDATED: South Brunswick Bear Could be Relocating

A bear was observed along several roads in Princeton Township, including Hun Road, and was reportedly heading in the direction of Lawrence Township about 10:30 a.m. today.

A black bear was spotted roaming around on the Educational Testing Service property in the northwestern corner of Lawrence Township and also through neighborhoods in Princeton Township this morning (Wednesday, May 18).

It is unclear at this time if the black bear that was seen in Lawrence and Princeton Township this morning is the same , most recently on Monday.

Lawrence Township Police Department spokesman Lt. Charles Edgar said a motorist called Lawrence police at about 7:55 a.m. today to report seeing a black bear cross the road in the area of Province Line and Rosedale roads, near ETS and the Lawrence Township-Princeton Township border.

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Edgar said Christine Buck – animal control officer for the Lawrence Township Health Department – was notified and additional calls about the bear were referred to the health department.

Carol Chamberlain, health officer for Lawrence Township, said the health department received five calls from members of the public reporting bear sightings – three transferred by the police department and two that came directly into the health department. She said the last call came in around 9:45 a.m.

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She said the callers reported seeing the bear on the ETS property and moving along the Stony Brook. Township officials notified the state Division of Fish and Wildlife as a matter of protocol, she said, stressing that there were no reports of any aggressive behavior exhibited by the bear.

Earlier today, between 6:40 and 7 a.m., Princeton Township police received multiple phone calls “reporting the presence of a black bear moving through the areas of Ober Road, the Russell Estates development and Winant Road,” according to a news release issued by Princeton Township police.

Responding Princeton Township police officers found the bear in the 200 block of Hun Road. Officials at the nearby Hun School were alerted to the bear’s presence so they could take steps to safe-guard students.

Just as was done in Lawrence, Princeton Township police notified their township animal control officer and state officials. Division of Fish and Wildlife “advised efforts should be made not to trap or confine the animal,” Princeton Township police said in their news release.

“Residents are urged to use due caution and their best discretion when allowing children and pets outside,” Princeton Township police advised.

As an additional sign that the animal is moving between the two municipalities, the bear was again spotted in Princeton Township around 10:30 a.m. today and was reported to be moving toward the Lawrence Township border, according to Princeton Township police.

Chamberlain urged residents to follow the advice offered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in a .

Additional information about black bears in New Jersey can be found on the state Division of Fish and Wildlife’s website.


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