Black Bear Seen in Mill Lane Area

Hillsborough police said a bear was spotted this morning in the area of Mill Lane and Amwell Road.

This is the third reported bear sighting this year, after a bear sauntered through town in April. Bears are frequently reported in Hillsborough, usually in neighborhoods near the rivers and near Sourland Mountain.

Police warn residents to avoid contact with the animals, and the New Jersey Department of Fish and Wildlife notes bears are often drawn to suburban houses by the scent of food coming from garbage cans, BBQs and even bird feeders.

"Bears are attracted to neighborhoods by garbage odors, so properly securing your garbage is one of the best ways to prevent bears from becoming a nuisance in your community," the department's "Bear Facts" reports.