We moved into our first home in June. I finally saw my first New Jersey black bear. Yesterday evening (before dark) I was walking in the tiny lot of woods adjacent to our backyard gathering some firewood (and picking up some old beer bottles). 25 yards ahead I saw a small black bear walking away from me. I got the heck out of there and retreated in the opposite direction in case "mom" was around.

This bear was either a baby or a small adult. Hard (almost impossible) to determine.