Ramapo Mountain State Forest reopened Tuesday after a two-week closure prompted by fears over reported encounters between hikers and possibly aggressive black bears, officials said.
One of New Jersey's estimated 2,500 black bears shown in this NJ Advance Media file photo. (file photo) BERGEN COUNTY -- Ramapo Mountain State Forest reopened Tuesday after a two-week closure prompted by fears over reported encounters between hikers and possibly aggressive black bears, officials said.
The adjacent Ramapo Valley Reservation was also reopened, based on a recommendation from state wildlife officials, according to the Department of Environmental Protection. The county-run reservation was closed for a week after a report that a bear chased eight hikers in the 3,300-acre park.
The decision to reopen the parks came after an assessment from the state Division of Fish and Wildlife, the DEP said. State biologists have been monitoring traps near several reported encounters between people and "one or more potentially aggressive bears."
RELATED: 4 bears killed, parks closed amid encounters with hikers, officials say
State biologists killed four adult bears in a little over a week after the animals showed no signs of fearing people, Division of Fish and Wildlife Director David Chanda said Wednesday.
Those bears appeared to have become accustomed to people, possibly by illegal feeding from hikers or nearby residents, wildlife officials have said.
Late last week, a bear that matched the description from an Oct. 11 reported encounter with hikers in Ramapo Valley Reservation in Mahwah was caught and killed, according to DEP spokesman Bob Considine.
Another bear was trapped at the Ramapo Mountain State Forest and released after it showed natural fear of people, Considine added.
The investigation into possible illegal feeding was ongoing and no charges have been filed, the spokesman said.
"Additional signage has been posted at the state forest and county reservation warning hikers and other visitors to not feed bears, as this can create aggressive behavior in the animals and is illegal," according to the DEP statement.
Officials launched an investigation after a 21-year-old woman and 7-year-old boy reported that they were followed and chased by a bear in the Ramapo Mountain State Forest Sept. 19.
Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
