Wildlife officials want to examine walking bear to decide the best course of action to ensure his survival over the winter. Watch video
JEFFERSON -- As winter approaches, concern for "Pedals," the injured walking bear, is increasing and the state Division of Fish and Wildflife has offered to step in if necessary.
Lawrence Hajna, a spokesman for the New Jersey Environmental Protection Agency's Division of Fish and Wildlife, said the agency is asking anyone who has sighted the bear or has any information on his whereabouts to call immediately.
Hajna said the agency wants to have its biologists examine the bear and determine his condition and whether he'll be able to survive the winter. He said the agency received a call roughly two weeks ago about a sighting but by the time it was able to mobilize the bear was gone.
"We're soliciting local residents to give us information," Hajna said. "We haven't received many reports, which may suggest the bear has moved into the woods. If anybody has any information, they need to contact us immediately. We heard the bear may not be getting enough to eat. We want our biologists to give us a first-hand assessment."
Nearly 250,000 people have signed a Care2 petition as of Monday morning demanding state Fish and Wildlife officials allow the relocation of the bear, who has been seen walking upright thorough Oak Ridge neighbors on his hind legs because of injuries to both paws, to The Orphaned Wildlife Center, a wildlife sanctuary in Otisville, NY. that has offered to take in the bear and rehabilitate him.
"We're keeping an open mind but I think that (relocating the bear) is getting a little ahead of the game," said Hajna. "We need to make an assessment first. Bears are very adaptable. Bears lose certain abilities as they age but they're still able to survive. Until we're able to assess its heath, we're taking a wait-and-see approach.
"A lot of people are very passionate about the bear and we understand that. But as wildlife managers, we know bears and other animals who have been injured and manage to survive in the wild."
RELATED: Residents worry that "Pedals," the walking bear, won't survive the winter
Sabrina Walsh Pugsley, who started a GoFundMe page to help relocate the bear that has raised more than $23,000, said she has been in touch with state wildlife officials but nothing has been done.
In addition to the perils of winter, Pugsley, of Oak Ridge, said a bear hunt is scheduled for the week of Dec. 7, which proposes a threat not only to the bear's life but to the many who may be in the woods to protect him from the hunters.
Pugsley said letters were mailed to three offices, the state Division of Fish and Wildlife, the state Department of Environmental Protection and the governor's office but no one has replied. She said those wishing to have the bear relocated tentatively plan to deliver an update petition to the Department of Environment Protection on Nov. 10 followed by a gathering at the Governor's office.
Pugsley has said the non-profit facility in New York has offered to take in the bear, with the permission from New Jersey wildlife officials, and build an enclosure designed specifically for his needs.
The facility would provide a natural setting with a door for him to walk through, a pond and it would abut an enclosure with other bears, she said. The facility currently has 14 adult bears, she has said.
PLUS: Walking bear's GoFundMe pages reaches $15K goal
Because the facility is a non-profit, Pugsley has said, it needs money to build the enclosure, which spurred her to start the GoFundMe page. The facility told her it'll need between $15,000 to $18,000 to build the enclosure.
But state wildlife officials have said their biologists believe it's in the bear's best interest to leave it alone.
"We have been in touch with Sabrina," Hajna said. "I wouldn't take it as a bad sign that there hasn't been any recent sightings of the bear. Maybe he has gone in the woods and is getting a proper diet. We just haven't had any sightings that we can respond to."
Hajna is asking anyone who sights the bear or has any information on his whereabouts to call state wildlife officials at 877-927-6337 immediately.
Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com.Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
