Bear Sightings Surge in Central MN, Prompting Safety Reminders

(KNSI) – No lions or tigers, but plenty of bears, oh my!

There have been a slew of bear sightings over the last two weeks in St. Cloud.

The most recent recorded report was at 1:00 a.m. on Thursday along the Sauk River off County Road 134, near Veterans Golf Course. There have also been confirmed single bear sightings in the city on April 6th near Stride Acadamy, April 7th off Bent Tree Drive and April 8th near Calvary Park and Oak Hill Elementry. There was also an unconfirmed report of a bear in the Lake George neighborhood.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Brett Fox told KNSI News they believe it’s unlikely there are any breeding populations in St. Cloud. However, “It is possible that there might be a transient bear passing through. And generally that will be a young male that was basically set out on his own. He might just be looking for a place to call home.”

Fox stated that data shows bear activity is increasing in central Minnesota, and there are three theories as to why. “The bears could be becoming more comfortable around humans. They could be looking a little bit harder for more diverse food sources. Or the population up north could be so big that the numbers down south are growing because they just have to spread.”

He advises that if you see a bear, leave it alone because they’re always unpredictable. “Remember that first and foremost, it’s a wild animal. Definitely give it space. Don’t get close to it. Don’t feed it. Don’t interact with it. If it’s injured, call the DNR, and we’ll take care of it.”

Officials say the best way to keep black bears away from your yard is to remove all food sources, such as bird feeders and dirty grills. Many bears have recently awoken from their winter slumber and are hungry after hibernation.

Call the Sauk Rapids conservation office at 320-223-7878 if you see a bear.

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