Township of Franklin

BEAR AWARENESS SEMINAR

Due to the weather, the Environmental Commission will be postponing the Bear Awareness seminar, originally scheduled for this March 2, to Monday April 6th at 7:30pm.

The Franklin Township (Somerset County) Environmental Commission announced today that they will host the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife (NJDEP-DFW), who will convene a “Bear Awareness” seminar; open to the public, to be held on Monday, April 6, 2009 at 7:30 PM in the Franklin Township Municipal Building at 475 De Mott Lane in the Council Chambers.

This free seminar will discuss the history of black bears in New Jersey, bear biology, the expansion of New Jersey’s bear population, how black bears become habituated, and explain NJDEP-DFW’s black bear research and management program. The seminar will feature guest speaker Kelcey Burguess, NJDEP-DFW Black Bear Project Leader. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to meet “Cyngen,” one of NJDEP-DFW’s “Bear Dogs”. Attendees will learn what they should do if they encounter a black bear, how to “bear proof” their residence, and other tips to minimize conflicts between bears and people.

Both human and black bear populations have increased greatly in New Jersey since the 1980’s, and as a result, bears and people are coming into contact with each other more than ever before, including sightings in 2008 in South Brunswick, North Brunswick, Milltown, Montgomery Township, as well as Franklin. This has raised questions and concerns among many residents, prompting the Franklin Township Environmental Commission to organize this seminar to proactively answer these questions and concerns and provide information to citizens on how to minimize conflicts with bears.

The seminar is free, and includes take-home information that attendees can share with others in the community, but a limited number of seats are available. Children who would like to participate must be at least 12 years of age.

More facts and information about “Bear Awareness” are also available online by visiting the Division’s web site at http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/bearinfo.htm.

The Franklin Township Environmental Commission meets the first and third Monday of every month. For more information including meeting dates, agendas and minutes visit our web site at:
www.franklintwpnj.org/environmental_commission.html