Zoo break!
Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange, New Jersey was forced to evacuate on Monday after a black bear was spotted on zoo grounds.
Officials say the bear was first seen Monday morning at nearby South Mountain Reservation—entering Turtle Back Zoo around noon. Zoo employees and visitors were directed to shelter in place inside of buildings on premise.
The situation forced Turtle Back Zoo to close for the remainder of the day while officials worked to track the bear, according to NJ.com.
“Today [June 22], we had a sighting of a black bear in Essex County South Mountain Reservation, and the bear ultimately found its way into Turtle Back Zoo. In an abundance of caution, the zoo was closed and zoo employees and visitors were ordered to shelter in place in buildings inside the zoo,” read a statement from the Office of the Essex County Executive. “At no time did the bear come in contact with any humans, and everyone was safely evacuated from the zoo with assistance from the Essex County Sheriff’s Office. Our zoo veterinarians and staff, along with our sheriff’s officers have been tracking the bear, and NJ Fish and Wildlife has been contacted.”
You can expect to see bears when you go to the zoo. Usually, they’re on the inside of the cage.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.