ROCKAWAY — For more than six minutes the bears wrestle and strike each another with massive blows.

For a moment, they break apart, one sliding down a hill through a bush. But the fighter slowly makes his away back up the stairs toward his opponent. At one point, mouths open, they appear like they’re about to bite. They spring at one another, grappling again.

Shortly thereafter the two big creatures are on their feet, lunging at one another. The video ends with both back on all four paws, one backing away toward the trees as the other advances.

The epic brawl – between two black bears, reportedly on a residential street in Rockaway – was uploaded to Youtube this month. The shaky video was originally posted by a user on Oct. 14, and another user stabilized and reposted it on Monday.

In the video, several cars show New Jersey license plates. It was reportedly captured in August.

Kelcey Burguess, the principal wildlife biologist and Black Bear Project leader for the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, said he saw the video on Tuesday. The two bears are likely males, weighing several hundred pounds – and are also likely to be fighting over a female in the area. Black bear mating season generally runs from June to July, but does also extend into August, he said.

“They’re probably fighting or playing because there’s a good-looking lady in the area,” Burguess said. “It’s really common to have fights during mating season.”

Although such fights are not seen in residential areas – and it does appear violent – the fight is nothing to be concerned about, even for residents on that street, Burguess said.

“It can be pretty vicious, but it’s normal behavior,” Burguess said.

Bears play on slide in Roxbury backyard 5 Gallery: Bears play on slide in Roxbury backyard

Seth Augenstein can be reached at

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