READER'S WRITE

Dear Editor:

There is no reason for people to fear black bears "in their midst" because bears are basically timid creatures.

No one knows how the three bears tragically killed recently found their way to Trenton, Livingston and Short Hills. There were no reported sightings along the way in towns to the north - the bears mysteriously showed up.

There were many sightings of the female bear after it left Livingston on its way to Irvington.

There was no reason why the female bear was killed in Irvington when it was falsely reported in the press that the bear reared up on its hind legs before she was shot. An ABC Channel 7 video clearly shows the bear with all four feet on the ground 9 seconds before she was shot and she was a danger to no one.

The bear killed in Short Hills was in a tree and a Millburn police officer said the bear looked "scared." She was "scared" because bears are more afraid of us than we of them.

There were news reports that the bear killed in Trenton had Pennsylvania tags and was not even a New Jersey bear.

The Division of Fish & Wildlife should not relocate bears to Assunpink Wildlife Area as they did last year causing mayors of towns in southern New Jersey to complain loudly. Then there is no reason to cause people to fear bears and no reason to hunt and kill them as they did last year and may again this year.

Carol Rivielle
West Orange, NJ