NJ Boy Scout Master narrowly Escapes Black Bear Attack

Petronino told state DEP officials after the incident that he wanted to show his Scouts a small cave near Split Rock Reservoir in Rockaway, a borough in Morris County.

Rockaway Township Mayor Mike Dachisen said that when the bear attacked the group in a cave they were exploring, the three scouts ran out and called 911.

Petronino said he yelled to the scouts outside the cave to leave and go get help.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is on scene investigating. They immediately began to try and use food, including trail mix and bananas, to lure the bear out of the cave, but their initial efforts failed.

Petronino was airlifted to a local hospital for treatment. Petronino advised that he kept his back to the bear and described how he could hear it “huffing”.

The bear bit the man on both his shoulders, besides his leg. Petronino tried to fight the animal, hitting it in its head with a rock.

The bear emerged and a dog that was with the group barked and scared it off, NJ.com reported. The victim did not observe any ear tags or a collar on the bear.

Petronino said he scampered out of the cave as soon as he heard the bear leave. The scouts called police and started a fire to create a smoke signal. He then used the cellphone to provide the police dispatcher a better description of their location.

In October, the New Jersey Department of Fish and Wildlife briefly shut down Ramapo Mountain State Forest after eight people were chased by a black bear while hiking in the woods.

New Jersey black bear population was estimated at 3,500 prior to the recent annual state bear hunt, which was extended this year by an unprecedented four days that concluded Saturday.