PLAINVIEW, Minn. – Traffic in Carley State Park in the Whitewater River headwaters has picked up since a bear sighting Match 6. People want a peek. The bear was the farthest south post-hibernation sighting of the year. The state wildlife agency has been tracking a gradual bear repopulation of western and southern countries, which once were bear habitats. Since the 1900s, however, bears have mostly in northeast counties – although some have wandered back from the Northwoods and down the Minnesota River valley from the Dakotas into the Twin Cities. In Wiscosin there have been sightings as far as south as Pfifer Valley nea Fountain City.
2023 sightings. Red marks the sites. The black bear subspecies is small — 120 to 300 pounds. No grizzlies in these parts.
A treat with pancakes. Outside a Denny’s restaurant in the northwest Minneapolis suburb Rogers last year.
Bear tracking. The state Natural Resources Department has creaeed an app and asked for pubic help to locate bear migrations. DNR report form.
What to do in a bear encounter
> Never run. A bear is faster than you.
> Quietly move away and leave the area.
> If a black bear approaches you, make yourself look big, make loud noises, clap your hands, and continue to back away.
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