UPDATED Sunday, July 12, 2009 --- 5:00 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — State officials say the number of bears in Wisconsin has increased sixfold in the last 20 years.

Department of Natural Resources spokesman Ed Culhane says there are about 30,000 bears in the state. There were about 5,000 a few decades back.

Culhane says that means people can expect more sightings during bear breeding season in June and July.

Bears are more common in northern Wisconsin but they've been migrating to the central forest area and western hilly regions.

That prompted a stir last month when Wisconsin wildlife officials shot a cornered bear in La Crosse.

Culhane recalls a bear sighting in Minocqua a few years ago when people took pictures but otherwise left the bear alone. He says that's the proper response, since bears don't want to hurt people.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.

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UPDATED: Monday, July 2, 2009 --- 9:15 p.m.
REPORTER: Chris Woodard

A rash of close calls with bears has some on edge heading into this busy outdoor weekend.

For both a pregnant woman and 15-year-old boy in our area the encounters were too close for comfort.

Kelly Wiltrout still wears the evidence of her attack. A simple trip to the trash can outside her Siren, Wisconsin home quickly turned into a fight for survival for her and her unborn child when she came face to face with a bear.

Wiltrout says, "I took one hit to the face, one more to the face and shoulder and then it kept it's paw on me."

Wiltrout escaped and now the DNR is setting traps.

It makes 15 year old Dylan Moore's encounter seem lucky.

He says, "Just scary seeing a black bear you know."

Moore was in his yard in Briggsville, walking his dog, when he got the shock of a lifetime.

Moore says, "All of the sudden the dog barked and I turned around and saw a black bear running across our yard. "

Moore was able to snap pictures of the bear from the safety of his dad's truck as it walked through the crowded neighborhood. Eventually it ran into the woods, startled but not gone.

Moore's neighbor Ed Kusinski says, "I've heard rumors but I was kind of surprised."

The next day he ran into the bear decided enough was enough and didn't go back to his barn for two days.

Add to that the bear that was spotted near Menards in Baraboo a few days earlier and you have some close calls that have people on edge.

The DNR says the biggest problem is people feeding bears and a lot of times without even knowing it. Even things like bird feeders can draw them into the area.

Bob Manwell with the DNR says, "If they begin to associate food with humans that's when problems begin to occur."

According to the DNR the bear population in Wisconsin is growing and it's not unusual to spot bears this time of year.

Moore says, "As long as they don't hurt us they're fine."

3 encounters, no major injuries and a new found awareness that has many in this quiet neighborhood looking over their shoulder.

The DNR says the sightings are no reason for alarm.

They chance of encountering a bear is still pretty rare but if you do they say you should make noise and don't turn your back and run.

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Posted Monday, June 22, 2009 --- 3:20 p.m.

It came across the scanner in our newsroom as "black bear sighting near the Menards on Highway 12."

Now, we have proof that a bear was roaming the City of Baraboo.

The Baraboo Police Department provided us with these pictures (see below).

According to Lt. Sinden, the bear was sighted on the southeast part of town. They were able to get it moving south, toward the bluffs.

The DNR says, unless the bear is bothering people, it won't capture the animal.