Chico, the Jack Russell, didn't survive his encounter with one of the many bears sharing the woods in West Milford.
"His entire side was opened. I'm not sure if it used its claws or if it bit him or what happened," said Irene Sanchez-Bang.
The high school senior showed us how she pulled into her driveway and was herself chased by the bear moments after her beloved terrier was attacked just outside the garage door.
"He came over and knocked over this (wood) pile I guess as he ran after me," she said.
Resident Marianne Lindstrom has videotaped the bears, which crisscross her yard almost daily. She also keeps a log of the number of times she has called in sightings. The dog cats and kids now stay inside most of the time.
"We need a bear hunt. West Milford just has too many bears," she said.
A few years ago, animal rights activists succeeded in stopping the seasonal bear hunt. Now, lifelong residents say they have never seen the bear population explode like this.
Residents who are chased should report it, says Fish and Wildlife Commission spokesperson Darlene Yuhas.
New Jersey's non-lethal bear management strategy includes a policy for dealing with the most aggressive bears.
"We do trap and euthanize bears which damage property," she said.
She emphasized bears inhabited the territory hundreds of years before people. These days the residents feel outnumbered and intimidated.
QUICK HEADLINES | NEW YORK NEWS | GET NEWSLETTERS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABC 7 SOCIAL NETWORKING
Find us on Facebook® | Follow us on Twitter
More social networking
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MORE FROM ABC 7
Contact NJ Bureau | Most popular stories |
Street-level weather
Mobile Alerts |
Report Typos |
See News? Tell Eyewitness news
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
