The Apshawa Preserve in New Jersey is popular with hikers, bikers, horse riders and bird-watchers.
AFP/New York
A 22-year-old hiker walking with friends in the woods just an hour's drive from New York has been killed by a bear, police said on Monday.
The victim, identified as Darsh Patel, was one of five hikers who encountered a black bear on Sunday, which then began to follow them in the Apshawa Preserve near the township of West Milford, New Jersey.
Police said the hikers became frightened and attempted to flee the area, around 65 kilometres northwest of New York.
"During the confusion the group became separated as they ran in different directions," police said in a statement.
Four of them regrouped and contacted police after failing to find their missing friend. A search and rescue team found Patel's body around two hours later, just before 6pm.
"Evidence at the scene indicated that the victim had been attacked by a bear. A bear was located at the scene and immediately euthanised," said police.
The Apshawa Preserve, consisting of around 576 acres of diverse habitat and beautiful vistas in northern New Jersey, is popular with hikers, bikers, horse riders and bird-watchers.
Officials said Sunday's episode was an isolated incident and the first fatal attack in recent history in New Jersey.
There are around 1,800 to 2,400 black bears in northwestern New Jersey but they are present in all 21 counties of the state.
