Black bear suspected of killing hiker in New Jersey

WEST MILFORD, N.J. -- Authorities believe a black bear attacked and killed a hiker in a northern New Jersey nature preserve.

West Milford police say five friends from Edison, New Jersey, were hiking in the Apshawa Preserve when they encountered the bear on Sunday. Police say the group became frightened and ran in different directions. They noticed one member was missing when they regrouped.

A search team located the body of 22-year-old Darsh Patel. Police say evidence indicated he had been attacked by a bear.

A bear at the scene was euthanized.

State wildlife officials are assisting with the investigation.

Bear sightings are common in the area and many parkgoers were shocked to hear of the fatal attack, CBS New York reports.

"Probably two, three times a week you'll see them sometimes," parkgoer Harvey Miller told WCBS 880's Peter Haskell. "I was kind of scared about it."

"We see them in our neighborhoods all the time and there's never been any aggression towards anybody ever," said parkgoer John Davidson. "Everyone was shocked because this has never happened."

"I don't feel safe at all," one hiker told Rebecca Granet of CBS radio station 1010 WINS. "I'm sure there's bear in all the woods on all the trails but we haven't encountered anything like this before."

The Apshawa Preserve is a 576-acre natural area used for hiking and bird watching, located about 45 miles northwest of New York City.