MORRIS COUNTY —Residents in many areas of Morris County, and throughout Northwest Jersey, may encounter black bears in the coming days as the bears begin emerging from winter dens and searching for food.

Black bears have been sighted in all of New Jersey’s 21 counties, but the population is densest in the northwestern counties of Sussex, Warren, Passaic and Morris.

Black bears are not true hibernators. They are emerging from their dens after a period of winter dormancy known as torpor, during which they may lose up to 20 percent of their body weight. They need to restore this weight for the mating season, which begins in late May and continues well into summer.

One of their primary natural food sources in spring is skunk cabbage, a leafy plant that grows along edges of rivers and streams and other wetlands. Grasses, forbs, tubers, bulbs and insects are other natural food sources. Bears may also feed on carrion.

Bears have an acute sense of smell and can detect scents across great distances, making it critical to prevent bears from being attracted to other food sources around properties, such as trash, food residue on grills, bird seed and pet food.

“Bears are by nature wary of people, however, animals attracted to neighborhoods may learn to associate people with food,” said Division of Fish and Wildlife Acting Director Dave Golden. “When bears make that connection they may become aggressive, cause property damage or seek handouts from people.”

It is important to note that intentional feeding of a bear is dangerous, illegal and carries a fine of up to $1,000.

The DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife offers these tips to minimize encounters with bears:

• Secure trash and eliminate obvious sources of food, such as pet food, easy-to-reach bird feeders, or food residue in barbecue grills.
• Use certified bear-resistant garbage containers, if possible. Otherwise, store all garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids and place them along the inside walls of a garage, the basement, a sturdy shed or other secure area.
• Wash garbage containers frequently with a disinfectant solution to remove odors. Put out garbage on collection day, not the night before.
• Avoid feeding birds when bears are active. If you choose to feed birds, do so during daylight hours only and bring feeders indoors at night. Suspend birdfeeders from a free-hanging wire, making sure they are at least 10 feet off the ground. Clean up spilled seeds and shells daily.
• Remove all uneaten food and food bowls used by pets fed outdoors.
• Clean outdoor grills and utensils to remove food and grease residue. Store grills securely.
• Do not place meat or any sweet foods in compost piles.
• Remove fruit or nuts that fall from trees in your yard.

Install electric fencing to protect crops, beehives and livestock.Morris Residents: Black Bears Leaving Winter Dens in Search of Food

If you encounter a black bear in your neighborhood or outdoors while hiking, fishing or camping, follow these tips:

• Remain calm and never run from a bear. Avoid direct eye contact, which a bear may perceive as a challenge. Back away slowly if a bear utters a series of huffs, makes popping sounds by snapping its jaws or swats the ground. Make sure the bear can easily escape.
• If a bear stands on its hind legs or moves closer, it may be trying to get a better view or detect scents in the air. This is usually not a threatening behavior.
• If a bear does not leave the area or advances toward you, make loud noises to scare it away by yelling, using a whistle, banging pots and pans or sounding an air horn. Make yourself look as big as possible by waving your arms. If you are with someone else, stand close together with your arms raised above your heads. Move to a secure area, such as a vehicle or building.
• If hiking through bear country, always make your presence known by talking loudly or clapping hands.
  Families who live in areas frequented by black bears should have a “Bear Plan” in place for children, with an escape route and planned use of whistles and air horns.
• Black bear attacks on humans are rare. If a black bear does attack, fight back.
  DEP wildlife experts emphasize that a black bear passing through an area and not causing a specific problem, such as breaking into trash or otherwise trying to access food sources on people’s properties or posing a safety threat, should be left alone.

People should leave the area and allow the bear to continue on its way. When frightened, bears may seek refuge by climbing trees. If the bear does go up a tree, clear the area and give the bear time to climb down and escape.

Report bear damage, nuisance behavior or aggressive bears to the Wildlife Control Unit of the DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife at (908) 735-8793. During evenings and weekends, residents should call their local police department or the DEP Hotline at 1-877-WARN-DEP (1-877-927-6337).

The Division of Fish and Wildlife offers public education programs about how to safely coexist with black bears and minimize negative interactions with them. Presentations to school children, civic organizations, communities and other groups are available free of charge by calling biologist Michelle Smith at (609) 259-6961 or emailing Michelle.Smith@dep.nj.gov.

To learn more about New Jersey’s black bears click here.

MORRIS COUNTY — Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation that will allow terminally ill New Jersey adults to end their lives peacefully, with dignity, and at their own discretion.

The bill, which was sponsored by Assemblyman John Burzichelli and Senator Nick Scutari, makes New Jersey the eighth state to allow such end-of-life decisions with the assistance of medical professionals.

“Allowing residents with terminal illnesses to make end-of-life choices for themselves is the right thing to do,” said Governor Murphy. “By signing this bill today, we are providing terminally ill patients and their families with the humanity, dignity, and respect that they so richly deserve at the most difficult times any of us will face. I commend Assemblyman Burzichelli for steering us down this long, difficult road, and thank the Legislature for its courage in tackling this challenging issue.”

“Over the course of seven years, we’ve heard countless heartbreaking stories of terminally ill patients and their families yearning to make a personal choice that simply was not provided for under law,” said Assemblyman John Burzichelli. “The choice for patients, who are critically ill and with a short life expectancy prescribed by their doctors, to determine their final day on this earth with dignity deserved honest and intellectual discussion. I’ve had many, many conversations with religious and non-profit organizations such as Compassion and Choices of New Jersey to get their take on the legislation. I thank all who have contributed over the years to the open dialogue, for and against it, and to the Governor for giving it the attention it deserved. It’s been a long, learned discussion, one that I’m sure will continue as we move forward.”

“This will provide a humane choice for terminally-ill patients who are experiencing tremendous suffering and pain. It offers the freedom of choice for those with no hope of surviving beyond six months to end their suffering in a dignified way,” said Senate President Steve Sweeney. “It is a very personal decision. I watched someone I loved suffer for the last six months of her life from cancer while her children watched. Her suffering was prolonged to a point where she entered a hospice where her medications were increased until she passed away. I don’t think that was humane for her or for her loved ones. This will offer patients in end-of-life circumstances an option to decide their own fate in their final days.”

“There is no good reason for terminally ill patients to be forced to endure prolonged pain and suffering if they make the choice to end their lives with dignity,” said Senator Nicholas P. Scutari. “This law respects the free will of terminally ill patients and provides a humane and dignified process for those qualified to end their lives. I am very proud of New Jersey to support this law and the compassion it provides to those suffering.”

“There are many strong opinions on this issue, but the truth is, only these patients understand what it is like to know death is approaching,” said Assemblyman Joe Danielsen. “This law will give terminally ill patients the choice to meet their end on their own terms. This is the humane approach. We cannot prevent them from dying, but we can at least provide the option and let them to do it with dignity.”

The “Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act” permits terminally ill, adult patients residing in New Jersey to obtain and self-administer medication to end their lives peacefully and humanely.  A patient’s attending and consulting physicians must determine that the patient has a life expectancy of six months or less, has the capacity to make health care decisions, and is acting voluntarily, in order for the patient to obtain the medication. The bill establishes additional procedures and safeguards that patients, physicians, and other health care professionals must follow before a qualifying patient may legally obtain and self-administer the medication.

“My wife Brittany Maynard spoke up so terminally ill New Jerseyans in her predicament would not have to leave their home like we did just to secure the option of a gentle dying process,” said Dan Diaz, an advocate who works with Compassion and Choices. “New Jersey becomes the fifth state in the five years since her death to pass this vitally important legislation. With immense pride in her legacy, I am very thankful to the New Jersey legislators who passed this law without excessive regulations that would prevent dying New Jerseyans from using this option.”

“Given our growing tidal wave of momentum nationwide, it is only a matter of time before every resident of every state has this peaceful dying option. But today we thank Gov. Murphy for making this option within reach for dying New Jerseyans who desperately need it,” said Kim Callinan, CEO of Compassion & Choices, which led the grassroots campaign to pass the law in New Jersey and other states. “We will help the Murphy administration implement this law as smoothly and quickly as possible to ensure dying New Jerseyans can use this option, if they need it.” 

“It is impossible for my terminally ill sister Melissa and I to express our profound sense of relief that this legislation is now law,” said law supporter Laurie Wilcox, a retired nurse in Clark with rheumatoid arthritis that has invaded her lung tissue and requires her to wear an oxygen tank most of the day to breathe. “As nurses, we know the limits of modern medicine to relieve suffering and we are so grateful we now have the option to peacefully end our end-of-life suffering, if we need it.”

“I am eternally grateful to Gov. Murphy and Assemblyman Burzichelli, for giving me this option to die peacefully, if I decide I need it,” said supporter Susan Boyce, a Rumson resident who has a terminal lung disease. “Just having this option is a godsend that will enable me to live the rest of my life, however long it is, as fully as possible knowing I won’t have to suffer needlessly at the end.”

I watched my mother die a horrible, drawn-out death. She lost all of her dignity, all of her happiness. Everything hurt and we knew she was dying and all we could do was sit there and wait while she begged for relief,” said Jessica Guenzel, a supporter ad Rutherford resident. “She didn’t have to die that way. With the signing of this bill, terminally ill people in New Jersey who are suffering have another option. They can decide with those closest to them what their last days or hours will look like and they can leave this world on their terms. I think my mom would have liked to have spent her last hours at the park with her kids on a nice day, then taking a bubble bath and tucking into bed knowing she would gently slip away in her sleep. She deserved that option. Now others have it. Thank you to the legislators who pushed and voted for this bill and thank you to Governor Murphy for helping me fulfill a promise to my mom.

The bill will take effect on August 1, 2019.

MORRIS COUNTY — Meet Lluvia, but you can call her Rain. This approx four-month-old puppy was surrendered to the rescue because of landlord issues. Don’t feel bad though, now she has the opportunity to find her real forever home!

She is super sweet and loves the company of other dogs. Rain is very smart and is picking up basic commands and potty training quickly. She is also doing well with crate training! She will need a family dedicated to continuing her training as she is so young. Rain also will require exercise and lots of kisses!

Rain’s ideal home would be one with a yard to play in and a family to love on with no young children. She can live with children 13+ and other dogs though!

If you’re looking for a young, happy girl to be your new dog-child, apply to adopt Rain today!

If you are interested in adopting, please fill out an application by clicking here.

Follow Wise Animal Rescue on Instagram by clicking here.
Follow Wise Animal Rescue on Facebook by clicking here.

MORRIS COUNTY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor Michael Soriano presented a “Proclamation” to members of “Relay for Life” on Tuesday, April 16.

The 2019 American Cancer Society Relay for Life will take place on Saturday, May 18, at the Parsippany Hills High School, 20 Rita Drive, from 4:30 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.  Registration will begin at 3:00 p.m.This year’s event is being dedicated to Sean Ries, Hannah Cerullo, and Emma Wyman.  All three of these superheroes have battled a form of pediatric cancer and are our inspirations for this year’s Relay For Life event!  A portion of proceeds from this year’s event is being directly fed into pediatric cancer research.

Anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers are encouraged to join the celebration. As the survivors walk, other participants touched by cancer in some way, will cheer them on in a demonstration of support and celebration. All survivors and their caregiver are invited to attend a very special dinner given in their honor at 5:30 p.m.

The Relay For Life is a community event where teams and individuals come together to honor, celebrate, and raise funds and awareness in an effort to free the world from the pain and suffering of cancer. There are three points to every Relay for Life Event, Celebrate, Remember, and Fight Back. The celebration portion includes a special dinner for any cancer Survivor and their Caregiver. The remembrance portion includes a moving Luminaria Ceremony in which friends and loved-ones lost to cancer are remembered.  The entire event is a way of fighting back against cancer by raising the much needed funds.  93% of the money raised will help the American Cancer Society provide free information and support for people facing the disease today, and fund continuous cancer research that will help protect future generations from all types of cancer.

We invite everyone to attend this Relay For Life event, the theme for this year’s Relay will be “Superheroes”  There will be inspiring speakers that have been touched by cancer, special music, themed laps, a Frozen T-shirt contest, face-painting for children, games and other fun activities, entertainment throughout the course of the event, as well as food, beverages, goodies and so much more.

By supporting Relay For Life, you help the American Cancer Society save lives, and that helps us move closer to our ultimate goal of a world with less cancer and more birthdays.Thanks to our sponsors: Garden State Elite Volleyball Club, Western Pest Services, South Street Yoga & Nutrition and Parsippany Applebee’s.If you are a cancer survivor, caregiver or have been touch by cancer in some way and would like to be part of the Relay For Life event click here, please visit  or call Cori Mastropolo at Cori.Mastropolo@cancer.org or call (973) 285-8043.

A copy of the “Proclamation:”