Learn about New Jersey's black bears

Ringwood — The NJBG will sponsor a program on Black Bears and Aversive Conditioning at the New Jersey State Botanical Garden. The program will be held in the Carriage House Visitor Center on Saturday, July 9, at 10 a.m. The program is free, but donations are appreciated. There is a $5 per car State Park parking fee on the program date. Nature educator Russell Brust will introduce you to the black bears which live in the forests and backyards of New Jersey - and on the edges of the Botanical Garden. You’ll learn about the bears’ lifestyle, how you can help protect them, and what to do if you meet one. You’ll also learn some new aversive conditioning techniques to keep them from visiting your property in search of food. Brust has been a Bergen County zoo educator for 14 years, and brings a wealth of experience to his hour-long presentation. The New Jersey State Botanical Garden at Skylands, which appears on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places, is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day of the year. Admission to the Garden is always free. In the fall, winter and spring, parking is also free.