Bear Sightings in Camden County Wednesday

There were two bear sightings in Winslow Township on Wednesday.

The first sighting was along Wharton Avenue in the Elm section of the township Wednesday morning, police said.

The second sighting was at approximately 4 p.m. in the Waterford Works section of the township. This sighting was confirmed by the police.

The bear was last seen on Pennington Avenue crossing into Waterford Township. Police warn this does not mean that the bear may not wander back into Winslow at any given time.

The photo attached to this post was taken along Hay Road about 11 a.m. Police warn residents not to take a picture of a bear if they come across one. Instead, callWinslow Township Police at 609-561-3300 or the Division of Fish and Wildlife at 1-877-927-6337 with the location. Only take a picture of the bear if you are a safe distance away.

Police offered the following tips on what to do during an encounter with a bear:

* Take steps to avoid attracting bears with food or garbage is the best way to prevent black bears from becoming a nuisance near your home.

* Store all you garbage in containers with tight fitting lids and place them along the inside walls of your garage or in the basement, sturdy shed or other secure area.

* Wash garbage containers with disinfectant solution regularly to remove odors.

* Put out garbage on collection day, not he night before.

* Clean outdoor grills and utensils thoroughly after each use and store grills securely.

* Do not place meat or any sweet foods in compost piles.

* Avoid feeding birds in an area frequented by bears.

* Pick up fruit or nuts that fall from trees and discard it in garbage containers with tight fitting lids.

* Do not feed the bear!

* Remain calm and make the bear aware of your presence by speaking in a calm, assertive voice.

* Make sure that the bear has an escape route

* Yell, bang pots and pans or use an air horn to scare away the bear. Make yourself look as big as possible by waving your arms. If you are with someone else, stand close together with your arms raised above your head.

* The bear may utter a series of huffs, make popping sounds by snapping its jaws and swat the ground. These are warning signs that you are too close. slowly back away and avoid direct eye contact.

* If a bear stands on its hind legs or moves closer, it may be trying to get a better view or detect scents in the air. It is not usually a threatening behavior.

* Black bears will sometimes bluff charge when cornered, threatened or attempting to steal food. Stand your ground, avoid direct eye contact and then slowly back away. Do not run!

* If the bear will not leave, head for nearby shelter. Remember that the black bear attacks are extremely rare. If a black bear does attack, fight back!

Additionally:

* Black bears are usually solitary animals that are most active at dawn and dusk.

* Black bears have excellent senses of smell and hearing.

* Black bears can run up to 35 mph. they are string swimmers and excellent climbers.

* Black bears eat both plants and animals.

* Adult females average 175 pounds; adult males average 400 pounds.

* Not all black bears are black. They can be brown, cinnamon, blonde, white and even gray-blue. Fifteen percent of New Jersey's bears have a white chest blaze.

* Breeding season runs from late May until August, peaking June and July. Cubs are born in January and weigh about 8 ounces to 16 ounces. The average litter size is three. Cubs remain with the female until she breeds again 16 months to 18 months later.