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We have at least one bear active in the general area around the Beaver Pond - Forest Acres Dr. intersection. Sightings were reported by a few people mostly during the afternoon both on the road and near multiple houses. It  walked onto at least one rear porch and sniffed around the doors until shooed away.  This means he is hungry and not shy. This is also very near the school complex. Care should be taken with food, garbage, grills, bird feeders, pets and people.

Based on the few sightings reported so far, this may be just one bear but could also be more. Two reports have been of a small-medium size male, maybe 150-200 lbs but another (walkers) said it was a large bear so it could be more than one....or maybe they were just closer.

Any other sightings or problems?

quinnberry wrote:Thanks for the useful info! My brother's about to relocate there, I'm sure gonna warn him about the bear

FWIW we haven't seen a bear this year. OTOH, neighbors reported sightings nearby again. I'm sure there are a few around here.

They don't seem to bother people. Just be aware and careful about (accidentally) feeding them. Never try to feed them. Like most animals they will remember where they ate and return if they liked the place.   This isn't usually good for bears or people.

Hi Husky,

The guy was a spammer from the Philippines and has been banned.

Last I heard about the bear, he was standing on the road at Forest Acres and Valley View Dr.

I like you post about the antennas. I tried what you suggested and got a few channels.  I think I need an outdoor antenna to get more channels.

Sal wrote:Hi Husky,

The guy was a spammer from the Philippines and has been banned.

Last I heard about the bear, he was standing on the road at Forest Acres and Valley View Dr.

I like you post about the antennas. I tried what you suggested and got a few channels.  I think I need an outdoor antenna to get more channels.

Not sure what the line about the Phillipine spammer means but....as far as antennas and bears

There are lots of antennas on the web, antenna selection guides and directional info on channels in range etc.  can help. There is even online advice from sellers.   Depending on the variables, rotating the antenna can matter too. If mounted outside you may need a device for this etc...lots of info out there. Good luck.  Of course even with the best of planning and equipment you can still have some issues.  Probably the worst would be that you don't receive all the 'local' channels that you want. You won't know unless you try it.

Bear(s?) have been on Beaver Pond near Forest Acres again recently. They do move around a bit but there are probably more than just a couple here.

there has been a bear sighting a couple of times on Port Royal Rd. Down where Falls Rd. meets Port Royal... WATCH YOUR TRASH!!! he's a hungry one. i'd say about 250pounds.

My husband and 7 year old saw a  rather large bear walking right down the middle of Earl Dr about 2 wks ago.  It was my son's first sighting and he was very excited (and a bit scared of course).  
Last summer, my husband had a rather up close encounter with a large bear during the night.  I also saw a bear in my backyard last summer, but mine was a bit smaller, maybe 2 or 3 yrs old.  We are new to Newton and enjoy the animals, including the bear

Hello Beth and Steve and welcome to our discussion board.

The bears around here are black bears and they generally will not harm anyone.  They can be defensive if they feel cornered especially if they have their young ones with them but if left alone they will not bother anyone.

Over the last few years, the Township started a trash collection program where people put their thrash out once a week.  As a result, there have been more bears around.  This is normal because the bears adapt quickly and realize that they can get an easy meal at homes when people put the trash out.

Bears learn quickly just like raccoons that are in the same family.  I expect that we will see more around because they are opportunists and will take advantage of an easy meal whenever they can.  

Many of these bears have ear tags, which obviously they were not born with, so that means they ahve been handled by the Game Commission.
While bears can and will travel far when moved by theGC it is obvious that they were not moved far enough from our area.
Also, all bears, especially the boars, caught and processed by the GC should be sterilized 9I grew up on a farm and know how easy it is to geld animals) to curb the exploding population. Yet the GC will do no such thing as it is actively propagating bears for sport/trophy hunting.
Not thirty years ago bears were fairly rare statewide, now they have become a nusiance which the GC and the hunters are "saving" us from by hunting them. Yet if the GC did it's proper job, which is to manage the wildlife, not propagate certain species such as bear, there would be no such nusiances.