This bear really went on a wild shopping spree.
A shocking encounter unfolded Tuesday afternoon when a black bear wandered through the aisles of a Dollar General store in Vernon, New Jersey, after biting a 90-year-old woman.
The unusual sighting occurred around 4 p.m., when the wild animal was seen roaming the store’s aisles. It lunged at shoppers and pets, raising fears that the animal was sick, according to CBS News.
In a video filmed by local real estate agent Sean F. Clarkin, the 175-pound female bear walks through the store as everyone looks on, terrified.
Clarkin, who tried to guide the bear out of the store, could be heard nervously talking to the animal, “What’s up, buddy? You are one big, nasty motherf—-r.” As the bear approached him, Clarkin’s voice grew increasingly frantic, “Where the f–k is the door?”
The bear had already bitten an elderly woman in the leg before Clarkin began filming. The woman was rushed to the hospital, and reports later confirmed the bear had also attacked a local’s dog.
Despite efforts by police to corral the bear back into the woods using rubber bullets, the animal kept returning to the store, prompting authorities to make the decision to shoot it.
Christine Flohr, who works at a nearby business, witnessed the bear’s death and was overcome with emotion.
“My heart just sank. I got tears in my eyes. I’m tearing up now just thinking about it. I asked the cop, you know, ‘Was that just a tranquilizer or did you have to shoot him?’ He said, ‘We had to shoot him.’ I just started crying,” Flohr said.
In the video, Clarkin is heard urging the bear toward freedom, shouting “Freedom, buddy, freedom!” as the animal appeared unbothered by his commands. But moments later, as the bear’s demeanor shifted, Clarkin shouted, “Get away! Get the f–k away! Move!”
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Fish and Wildlife Division is now investigating the incident.
Clarkin later posted a statement on social media, calling attention to the root cause of such encounters — unsecured dumpsters.
“After years — decades — of the municipality allowing restaurant and business dumpsters to remain open and unsecured, we’re now witnessing the consequences,” he wrote.
“When bears have easy access to human food, their population grows rapidly, leading to unnecessary annual hunts. If we reduce access to dumpster food, we’ll see a natural decline in bear populations and, in turn, less need for these hunts.”
As officials continue their investigation, the unsettling incident highlights growing concerns over human-wildlife conflicts in suburban areas.
Read the full article here
