Black Bear Spotted In Winslow Township, NJ
By Diana Rocco
WINSLOW TOWNSHIP, NJ (CBS) -- An unwelcome visitor has been making the rounds in Winslow Township. A black bear has been spotted grazing, wandering through yards and getting into the garbage.
"We didn't think it would come all the way down here," said one resident.
Police say the bear has been spotted several times in the last two days. Police and homeowners were able to snap a few pictures as he wandered through the forest.
The young male is said to weigh about 200 pounds and has been looking for food. The Rodriguezes, on Hall Street, woke up to find their garbage all over their yard, and they're convinced the bear is the culprit.
"The garbage was all on the floor, and we didn't know who it was, and we thought it was a dog," says Guadaloupe Rodriguez.
Parents are keeping their kids close to home after the bear was found drinking out of a neighbor's pool--while they were in it.
"We were going to take the baby swimming, and then hearing the bear was drinking out of a pool, taking her swimming made me nervous," explains Kevin Mckelvey.
"We're pretty much keeping an eye out and making sure no one is outside by themselves," Ashley Roagers says.
Police say the bear was spotted Sunday morning on Old White House Pike, then on Monday in the peach orchard off of US-30, and again a few hours later in a backyard off of Hay Road.
But Karen Badiacco isn't too concerned. She says she's seen the bear before, and he wasn't bothering anyone.
"I was going to the coffee shop, and he was on the railroad tracks. I stopped and watched and left him alone; we're in his area. He lives in the woods."
