{"id":12812,"date":"2022-05-17T19:58:01","date_gmt":"2022-05-17T19:58:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/?page_id=12812"},"modified":"2025-11-25T15:33:40","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T20:33:40","slug":"bear-facts-for-outdoor-enthusiasts","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/bears\/bear-facts-for-outdoor-enthusiasts\/","title":{"rendered":"Bear Facts For Outdoor Enthusiasts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

When camping, birding, hiking, hunting or fishing in areas frequented by black bears, it is important to follow common-sense safety tips to avoid attracting black bears. This is the best way to prevent black bears from becoming a nuisance and to ensure an enjoyable outdoor experience.

The mere presence of a black bear is not considered a problem. In general, bears tend to be wary of people. However, black bears learn very quickly and bears that are fed intentionally or unintentionally by carelessly leaving out food or garbage while camping, hiking or fishing will learn to associate people with food.

Once black bears learn of an easily accessible food source, like a cooler at a campground, they may lose their wariness of people and return to a location in search of more available food sources. These bears can become a nuisance or aggressive and may have to be trapped and relocated or destroyed.

For more on staying safe in bear country, see Bear Encounters<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Remember: Never feed bears!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It’s illegal in New Jersey, and it’s dangerous. Anyone feeding bears could face a penalty of up to $1,000 for each offense.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Bear Facts for Camping<\/h2>\n\n\n\n