Black bears are showing up more often in Millburn's residential neighborhoods, and the township wants residents to stop rolling out the welcome mat.
Millburn Township issued a public safety advisory on Friday, July 24, 2026, alerting residents that bear sightings have been increasing around town. The advisory urges residents to take specific steps to make their properties less attractive to bears searching for easy meals.
What to do
The township listed four actions residents should take:
- Keep trash cans secured in a garage or shed until the morning of pickup
- Bring pet food indoors
- Take down bird feeders, especially outside of winter
- Clean grills after each use
Intentionally feeding bears is illegal in New Jersey.
If you see a bear
The township's guidance is straightforward: give the animal space and let it move on. Never approach a bear.
Under New Jersey Fish & Wildlife policy, bears that are not causing damage or threatening people are left alone. The state considers them to be passing through in search of food, according to the advisory.
If a bear is causing property damage or acting aggressively, residents should call the Millburn Police Department's non-emergency line at (973) 564-7001 or the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's 24-hour hotline at 1-877-WARN-DEP (1-877-927-6337).
The sightings fit a broader pattern. The NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife has confirmed bear activity in all 21 of New Jersey's counties, with the population centered in the northwestern counties of Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren. State bear activity reports from April 2026 documented garbage-related incidents, home entries, and vehicle strikes across multiple counties.
The NJDEP maintains additional bear encounter safety tips.
