Murphy: increase in black bear attacks, incident because of covid-19, not because there's too many in nj

Murphy: Increase in Black Bear Attacks, Incident Because of COVID-19, Not Because There’s Too Many In NJ

Posted by
1 min read
August 1, 2020

WEST MILFORD, NJ –  The New Jersey Outdoor Alliance on Friday released a statement slamming Governor Murphy’s administration over the deafening silence regarding the recent bear attack in West Milford, NJ.

“The NJOA has warned Governor Murphy time and time again about the ramifications of his disastrous lack of support for the Comprehensive Bear Management Policy and the consequences of allowing his deep-pocketed anti-hunting extremist pocket pals dictate his policy instead of his biologists. Now, a homeowner in New Jersey has received 36 stitches on his face.” said NJOA Vice President Cody McLaughlin, “Since there has, as of yet, been no press release from state Department of Environmental Protection regarding the incident, the public does not have much information. What we DO know, though, is that a home owner received 36 stitches in his face from a so-called ‘encounter’ with a black bear in his garage when he returned home from walking his dog. 4 days later, on July 30, a fox ‘attacked’ an 8-year-old girl causing her to be taken to a hospital for treatment. When is an attack not an attack? According to Governor Murphy, its when the ‘encounter’ is with a Black Bear. With the court case challenging DEP’s closure of State Lands to all Bear hunting finally scheduled to start trial on September 21, 2020 It seems that the DEP is attempting to downplay anything dealing with black bear interactions in New Jersey.”

After reports of bear activity were released by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife showing a marked increase of bear complaints, DEP responded that the increase was because COVID-19 caused more people to stay at home, thus increasing the probability of seeing more black bears. What they failed to take into consideration is that the bears would have to been there all along and just not being observed.

About the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance: New Jersey Outdoor Alliance’s mission is “preservation through conservation.” NJOA serves as a grassroots coalition of outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen dedicated to the conservation of natural resources and environmental stewardship that champions the intrinsic value of fishing, hunting and trapping, among opinion leaders, policy makers, and the public at-large. To learn more about the organization, please visit: https://njoutdooralliance.org/.

Photo by Bruce Warrington on Unsplash

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Facebook

Breaking News

Don't Miss