Police: Man Says He Was Attacked By Bear In Western New Jersey

POHATCONG, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A man says he was attacked by a bear Wednesday morning in Pohatcong, police said.

Residents in the rural town in New Jersey say they see a lot of bears.

"There's one really big one, some say about 300 or 400 pounds ... they do get big," Pohatcong resident Phil Rhys told CBS2's Christine Sloan.

The 58-year-old man, who lives in a house on county Route 627, made a 911 call telling police a 500-pound bear swatted him as he fed a cat on his side porch.

The Division of Fish and Wildlife spent the morning investigating and looking in the yard. Police said they found no evidence of the bear attack.

"The laceration that was on his arm... can I say it was from a 500-pound bear? Absolutely not," Police Chief Jeffrey Greenemeir said.

CBS2's Sloan asked officials what it would be if it doesn't appear to be a bear attack.

"At this point it's too early to tell. I would not call this a bear attack," Greenemeir said.

Investigators said the cat food wasn't touched. As for the man, whose name has not been release, he's being kept at the hospital for observation with minor injuries.

The mayor said they'll continue to search the area to make sure residents are safe.

"I think in this case just because it is such a real possibility ... I think until the investigation is complete ... we'll air on the side of caution and act as if it was a bear," Pohatcong Mayor James Kern said.

Police said they're waiting to interview the home owner to verify the information he initially gave them. As for those who live in bear country, the mayor said to keep their food inside and their garbage secure.