About the BEAR Group

In the 1970’s, New Jersey’s black bear population was virtually wiped out by trophy hunting at the hands of the pro-hunt Division of Fish & Wildlife.

As the years passed, the black bear—among the slowest reproducing land mammals in North America—would again be confronted by the fastest reproducing animal—man. More and more people moved to the Highlands—and fragmented the very heart of bear country. As the paths of man and bear crossed, it was clear to at least one woman, that a need for public education and wildlife advocacy was great. And so in 1992, Lynda Smith, a schoolteacher and single mother of two, became the voice for the New Jersey black bear by founding the Bear Education And Resource Group.

The mission of the BEAR Group is to teach residents how to live responsibly and peacefully with black bears. We ourselves have been educated by Lynn Rogers. Ph.D., the world's foremost bear expert. And we believe that hunting bears for trophies and sport—under the guise of public safety and to lower bear nuisance complaints—is cruel and unnecessary.

And we practice what we preach. Fully comprised of volunteers, our members serve the public via educational tables and public presentations. We distribute literature to municipalities, camps, schools, and libraries. We’ve developed and trademarked our own CritterCans™—bear resistant trash cans—which we assemble and deliver ourselves. We are available to the public via phone or home interview to answer questions about bears or to help the homeowner bearproof their property. And we are equipped to train Police and Animal Control Officers in bear aversive conditioning.

When necessary, the BEAR Group rescues injured and orphaned cubs and gets them to a wildlife rehabilitator where they receive top care—and eventual release into the wild.

We have educated residents throughout the state and have helped generate over 100,000 letters and phone calls against bear hunting. And we have successfully halted bear hunts in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2007. One of our current goals is the formation of a New Jersey Bear Center, to create a cornerstone of our education and advocacy effort and to further solidify our mission.

We welcome anyone who shares our goals of education and black bear protection. If you would like to join, please click the “Join Us” link at the top left. It is only because of our members, that we able to do what we do.

To all our members and prospective members—we thank you—and our black bears thank you.