By Anthony P. Mauro Sr. Between the frequent media coverage that
black bears receive in New Jersey and reports of melodramatic
behavior by a few bear devotees spouting sensational claims, it
seems as if black bears now rank with “Real Housewives of New
Jersey” and “Jersey Shore” for a share of celebrity status. But
bears are not celebrities, and it is detrimental to both bears
and people for them to be treated as such. As much as we enjoy
assigning human qualities to bears in cartoons, advertising and
Disney theme parks, these unreal depictions act to impede our
understanding of the important role bears play in healthy
ecosystems and diminish the animal’s significance as a living
thing. Food and fear largely drive the behavior of black bears.
These large plantigrades are carnivorous or omnivorous mammals
with strong claws. They live in largely forested areas, but will
leave in search of food. Bears often are attracted to human
communities because of the immediate availability of food.
Regarding food, there ar