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Page 1 News For The Garden State Prsrt Std U.S. POSTAGE Outdoors Enthusiast PAID Newark, NJ Permit No. 973 Vol. 47, No. 11 November 2014 One Dollar Organized May 24, 1935. Serving All the Sportsmen & Women of NJ Counties: Atlantic - Bergen - Burlington - Camden - Cape May - Cumberland - Essex - Gloucester - Hudson - Hunterdon - Mercer - Middlesex - Monmouth - Morris - Ocean - Passaic - Salem - Somerset - Sussex - Union - Warren NJ FEDERATED SPORTSMEN NEWS Assoc. of Field Trial Clubs of NJ - NJ Bass Federation - Jersey Coast Anglers Assoc. - NJ Beach Buggy Assoc. - NJ Chap. of Nat. Wild Turkey Fed. - NJ Ducks Unlimited - NJ State Council Trout Unlimited - NJ Trappers Assoc. - NJ Waterfowlers Assoc. - United Bow Hunters of NJ Eye-To-Eye The Truth about Black Combat by Vin T. Sparano Bears in New Jersey The recent black bear attack in northern New Jersey, and the first local by Lou Martinez the following year, had taken up residence fatal bear attack in about 150 years is, in a hollowed-out sycamore tree in the unfortunately, a example of what hap- On May 13, 1978, in Ontario, Walpack region; this bruiser weighed just pens when people panic and run scared. Canada; Algonquin Provincial Park suf- under 500 pounds, and upon awakening Perhaps this fatal attack might not have fered its first fatal black bear attack in 80 from his drug-induced slummer, calmly happened if the young hiker had been years. walked off. What a thrill to be able to hold more knowledgeable about the dangers What made this attack so noteworthy the basket-sized head of this dozing giant. of encountering a wild animal. This all was the fact that a 275-pound black bear Some people think of bears as big reminds me of a couple of incidents that killed not one but three experienced out- comical creatures; others foster the “fuzzy happened to me many years ago in doorsmen (albeit youngsters) while they Teddy bear” character, that they want to Alaska and Africa. were engaged in fishing within the park hug and play with; others see them as scary Have you ever watched two fight- borders. The first young man was taken monsters bent on devilish mayhem, while ers in a ring as the referee explains the from behind, as he was so intent on fishing still others just exhibit a healthy respect for rules before the bell? They stare at each that he never noticed the predator lurking them and give them a wide berth. I guess other. They glare. They silently chal- in the bush. the truth lies somewhere in the middle of lenge. The message is clear in that eye- While stashing his kill, the bear those. to-eye contact: I’m not afraid of you and encountered the first victim’s 12-year-old Black bears (Ursus americanus) are I’m going to beat you. It’s a serious chal- younger brother, and his buddy, who were highly intelligent, highly adaptable crea- lenge, and one that is not limited to also killed and partially devoured. All tures. They possess the strength of 8-10 humans. three bodies were recovered within 15 feet human beings, and their sense of smell is Several years ago, while fishing for of each other. It took 250 searchers 48 very highly developed. Their bite pressure salmon in Alaska, I received some sound hours to recover the bodies, although they is over twice that of the biggest pit bull. At advice from a ranger. “If you see a were within 400 feet of where their older 100 yards, they can out-race and overtake brown bear,” he said, “walk away slow- brother (the group’s only survivor) had the fastest quarter horse. They can’t keep ly and never look him in the eye.” Bears parked his car to take a rest, while the vic- up the pace much beyond that, but if you interpret eye contact as a challenge, tims fished. are the one being run down, he’ll get you. Fast forward about ten years to the Eyesight is said to be poor, yet detec- much like the fighters in the ring. If the A Garden State black bear, photographed bear happens to be having a bad day, you wooded Appalachian Trail here in north tion of motion is excellent. Those big ears could have your hands full. Jersey. It was a beautiful crisp spring during a field trip with a state biologist. indicate that they hear very well. I had forgotten this advice until I morning when I first encountered “the Lou Martinez photo. Bears are omnivorous. They can and went on a safari to Zimbabwe, Africa. A whirling dervishes,” with Senior Wildlife will eat just about anything, including but big 180-pound cattle-killing leopard had biologist Pat McConnell the Black Bear Suddenly it stopped, glared at us, and not limited to grasses, fruits, nuts, fish, car- been live-trapped by the Professional Project leader. We had parked the Division started running up the tree, raining down rion, doughnuts, small mammals (cats and Hunters I was accompanying. The cat of Fish and Wildlife truck off the road, and strips of bark upon us, strips that it pulled dogs)… and, at times, even humans. had been kept in an enclosure for about after she had prepared an 8-foot jab pole, I out of the tree with its powerful jaws. Bears are also very prolific. Many 2- four months until the proper time and trailed McConnell while she led the way Finally calming down, it started its clumsy year-old females, after breeding in June, place was chosen for his release. I was into a baited area. Our task for the day was decent, where a waiting McConnell gave it have twins their first time. The offspring lucky enough to be there to witness the to attempt to secure a trapped bear, for a hindquarter full of Rompun and are born in December, and although tiny at event. research purposes. Ketamine. birth they are one of the quickest growing The leopard, in a steel cage covered As we neared the area, Pat whis- Ten minutes later everyone’s heart mammals on the planet. The average black with a canvas tarpaulin, was loaded onto pered, “We’ve got one.” Almost as if on rates returned to normal as this bear final- bear female (nationwide) is 200-250 a truck and driven to the release point. cue, a 175-pound male stood up, and after ly went to sleep. I commented, “Pat, thank pounds and males normally top out at Doug Carlisle, the PH who trapped the scenting us it started to run circles around God that snare held.” about 400 pounds. Jersey bears are like our leopard and had cared for it during cap- the tree to which it was tethered. The speed She looked at me and said, “The last beefsteak tomatoes – huge. Females here tivity, carefully backed the truck up to at which it ran was awe-inspiring, and as it whirling dervish, ended differently; the can exceed 300 pounds, and have up to the chosen gorge. He pulled back the zoomed by I mentally thought “Whoosh, if snare snapped! But thankfully the bear four cubs, of which 73% survive yearly. canvas from the drop gate of the cage. I this thing gets loose, it’ll take our heads kept running, away from me!” was nearby, using a video camera to tape off!” Another bear, this one in March of see Bears, p. 10 the release. A rope was rigged to the gate and causes a similar disease in all ruminants looped over a tree limb about 100 feet with variable mortality rates depending on away. From this distance, the gate could Bluetongue Virus virus strain and livestock species affected. be lifted safely, setting the leopard free. Horses are not affected. We would be stationed behind the cage Effects are usually most severe in with Rob Martin, another PH, who was Confirmed in NJ Deer improved sheep breeds such as fine wool standing by with his .458 Winchester. and mutton breeds. No cases of livestock Safety had to be a critical factor. If the The Division of Fish and Wildlife has EHD is only found in deer populations, the illnesses have been reported. leopard caught even a glimpse of a per- confirmed New Jersey’s first cases of blue- bites of the midge can transmit bluetongue Livestock that appear to exhibit any son, the big cat would have turned on tongue virus in two deer. to certain types of livestock.” of the symptoms associated with blue- him. The virus was confirmed in one deer The clinical signs of disease caused tongue should be reported to the New Before the release, however, I that died in Basking Ridge, Somerset by both viruses are identical, and the two Jersey Department of Agriculture, wanted to get close-up footage of the County on September 4 and another that can only be differentiated by testing and Division of Animal Health at 609-671- leopard. I moved in front of the cage, died in Stirling, Morris County on virus isolation. The potential for disease 6400. where the tarp had been drawn back. I September 19. The clinical signs of blue- transmission will end when frost kills the The New Jersey Department of was less than 10 feet from the cage when tongue are identical to epizootic hemor- midges. Agriculture’s Animal Health Diagnostic the leopard saw me. rhagic disease (EHD), which has occurred People are not at risk by handling Laboratory (AHDL) can assist in diagnos- He charged instantly. He hit the seven times in the state since 1995.

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