Feeding Black Bear cubs, Dangerous encounter! Smoke Rise, Kinnelon NJ

[aleysb]

The number of black bear attacks is on the rise in North America. More people have been killed by black bears in the last 15 years than in the last 100. This is because of habituation. These bears are normally timid. But feeding them just once can cause serious life-threatening problems. The babies are habituated, too. Once habituated, they don't forget. A moved bear will sometimes travel up to 60 miles to return to its place of origin. Feeding is cruel and it should be stopped.

[aleysb]

Also, isn't feeding bears illegal where you live. It is in Virginia, yet bear hunters here bait bears and don't seem to get in trouble. They should, though, because the number of incidents as shown in this video is on the rise. People mistakenly think the bears are friendly. No, they are hungry and becoming habituated. Break the habit and the bear won't just come to the door expecting food. Momma and babies will just knock the door down and come on in.

[aleysb]

This video does not need to show everything. These are obviously habituated bears, and this is very dangerous for everyone involved. A Tennessee woman who fed bears was finally eaten in her home by one of the bears she was feeding. A fed bear is a dead bear, as far as wildlife officials are concerned. One habituated bear in Virginia had to be killed when it ran inside a hospital. It won't be long until someone in Smoke Rise will be in the news. I just hope no one gets killed.

[samuelcr38]

the video does not show the feeding activity described by Mr. Skorr. We agree that talking to the neighbor directly would be a good idea....not only neighborly but would provide more information......

[MooPotPie]

Those bears are the only black residents of Smoke Rise … just sayin'.

[philiperik]

Why not just talk to the neighbor about it?