Tuesday, June 24, 2008 --- 2:45 p.m.

SPRING GREEN – Several recent black bear sightings have prompted Department of Natural Resources’ wildlife biologists to point out that their visitations are becoming more common each year in the ‘Driftless’ area of southwest Wisconsin.

June is the breeding season for bears in Wisconsin and “most bear sightings we receive in southern counties occur during late May and June when sub-adult bears, mostly young males, are forced out of breeding territories up north and disperse long distances in search of new habitat,” explained DNR biologist Becky Roth, Spring Green.

Ms. Roth noted that black bears and people have coexisted for centuries in northern Wisconsin and “there’s no cause for alarm.”

Statewide population estimates indicate there are about 12,000 bears in Wisconsin. Nearly 1,800 bears inhabit Bear Management Zone C which encompasses the southern two-thirds of the state.

“Black bears are normally very timid and avoid all contact with people. They may cause problems by damaging bird feeders or foraging through unsecured garbage containers and they may return to the same area if food is readily available.”

“So, if possible, keep your garbage, grills, compost, pet foods and bird feeders out of reach if a bear has been reported in the vicinity,” advised Ms. Roth.

She added that “although we’ve had a few instances in past years when bears have stayed around southern counties through the summer, most leave the area and presumably return north as the breeding season ends.”

“However, this year we are getting reports of sows with cubs and sows with yearlings which may result in continued bear sightings throughout the summer. This is because female bears with their young cubs or yearlings are less likely to move long distances over a short time period.”

“The wooded hills, coulees, creeks and river bottoms of southwestern Wisconsin provide abundant food and cover for bears as well as potential winter den sites, so it’s possible that wandering bears will find it to their liking and some may decide to stay,” pointed out Ms. Roth.

Over the last three weeks, bear sightings have been reported in Richland County near Richland Center, Sauk County near Lake Delton, western Dane County near Blue Mounds, and Iowa County near Barneveld.

Wildlife biologists note that the best way to avoid trouble with bears around your home is to follow these steps:
• Don’t knowingly feed a bear
• Reduce garbage odors by rinsing food cans before putting them in recycling containers or garbage cans.
• Compost vegetable scraps.
• Keep meat scraps in the freezer until garbage day and garbage cans in a closed building until pick-up.
• Keep pet food inside or don’t feed in the evening.
• Keep barbeque grills and picnic tables clean.

General guidelines for campers include don’t sleep in clothes you wore while cooking, don’t bring food into the tent, don’t dump food scraps by your campsite and make sure all food, scraps and cooking utensils are in critter proof containers.

If a bear is near your home, wave your arms and make noise to scare the bear away. Then back away slowly or go inside and wait for the bear to leave. If the bear found food such as bird feed or garbage one or more times, it will return. When food is no longer available, the visits will stop.

If you encounter a bear while in the woods – stay calm, don’t shoot the bear or approach it. Give it space, walk away and watch from a distance. Do not approach sows with cubs.

Brochures better explaining bear habitats and ways to void them are available from the Spring Green or Dodgeville DNR offices. If you have bear troubles and are in need of assistance, please call the USDA Wildlife Services 24-hour hotline at 1-800-433-0688.