More Bear Sightings In Twin Cities As Spring Blooms
Bears are coming out of their winter slumber and are starving. They're out foraging for food, trying to replace thousands of calories every day, and that means you are more likely to have a bear encounter this time of year. That's true even if you normally don't have bears in your part of the state.
Black Bears Are Expanding In Minnesota + The DNR Doesn't Know Why
Black bears in Minnesota have been migrating further south and west in Minnesota. Years ago, most black bears were found in North Central and Northeast Minnesota, but that has been changing steadily.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources encourages people who have seen a bear outside of their natural range to report it. You can view an interactive map to see where the bears have been spotted. Odds are there has been one spotted near you. Just look at that map!
The black area of the map is where bears are normally found in their natural range. Anything outside of that is where the DNR would like you to report them.
They do turn off the bear sightings during bear hunting season from Mid-August to mid-October, fyi. The DNR is working to understand and document the black bear expansion in the state.
If you look closer at the map, you can see quite an increase in bear sightings in the Twin Cities metro area.
If you do encounter a Black Bear, speak calmly to alert the bear to your presence. Do not startle the bear. Back away slowly, walk, don't run, and keep an eye on the bear. If it approaches you act boldly, yelling and throwing rocks or sticks at it. Don't climb a tree; bears are great climbers.
Read more about Bear Encounters and how to make your property bear-resistant from the Minnesota DNR.
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Gallery Credit: Dom DiFurio & Jacob Osborn