Black Bears Make A Comeback In Southeast Minnesota: You’ll Never Believe Why!

Good news! Black bears are making a comeback in southeast Minnesota! Learn about their return and how to live alongside these amazing animals. 🐻 #BlackBears #MinnesotaWildlife #BearSafety

Rochester, MN – People in southeast Minnesota have been buzzing about some surprising visitors lately – American Black Bears! The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says they’ve had 12 black bear sightings in just a few weeks between Olmsted and Winona counties, with some even right in Rochester.

I actually got an alert on the Ring app a few days ago  – because a bear was also caught on cam right here in our home town of Winona, Minnesota! My hubby Jack and I were so excited. We’re animal nuts, and love bears!

Bears Reclaiming Their Historical Territory

You might think bears don’t belong here, but the DNR says this area was actually bear country a long time ago. Andrew Tri, who studies bears for the DNR, explained that bears used to live here before people settled the land, but they disappeared for a while because they were killed off as pests.

Then, in the 1990s, bears started showing up again near some parks and wildlife areas. Now, the DNR thinks there are probably less than 20 bears living in southeast Minnesota and sharing the land with bears in Wisconsin.

Don’t miss this related article: Rare Sightings: Minnesota’s Unexpected Bear Diversity Will Leave You Speechless!

Why Are Bears Returning to Southeast Minnesota?

So why are people suddenly seeing so many bears? Andrew says it’s probably just a few male bears wandering around looking for food, a place to live, and girlfriends during May and June. The hilly forests and fields in southeast Minnesota have everything bears love – acorns, berries, and crops to munch on.

Andrew also thinks people are more okay with having bears around these days. Back in the 1950s and 60s, people would just shoot bears for no reason. NOT cool! But now, most folks think bears are pretty awesome, even if they can be a nuisance when they tip over garbage cans or bird feeders.

Living Alongside Bears

As bears keep slowly moving back into the area, Andrew says we need to learn how to live with them. That means not leaving anything in your yard that might attract bears, like food or birdseed.

If you do run into a bear, don’t panic and definitely don’t run away! That can make the bear want to chase you. Instead, make yourself look big, back away slowly, and make a bunch of noise. For bear safety tips, check out Bearwise here. If you see a bear in southeast Minnesota, report it to the Minnesota DNR here.

With so much doom and gloom in the news these days, isn’t it great to finally read some good news? We’re so excited black bears are making a comeback in the Midwest! So, if you visit us here in southern Minnesota, keep your eyes peeled for Pooh – but maybe just don’t offer him any honey, ok?! Hehe. Safe travels.

🗣 Have you ever seen a black bear IRL? We’d LOVE to hear from you in the comments section below. ⬇️

SHARE This Minnesota News Article With Family And Friends…