An American black bear foraging on the forest floor, with a second bear half-hidden behind a tree.

Black bear (and cub), New Jersey

American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) North America’s smallest and most common bear, black bears are agile climbers and can run up to 35 mph despite their bulk. New Jersey has one of the densest black bear populations in the U.S., concentrated in the forested northwest; they are active year-round but most visible from spring through fall. Modeled range · iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 Wikipedia | iNaturalist | Range map

July 4, 2026