Iowa (KWWL) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says there’s a good chance in the next several weeks, a few wandering black bears will come down from the north ahead of the breeding season.
It’s something that has been happening every spring since 2014, according to the DNR.
“Within the next three to five years, I think we can expect to see cubs show up and a small breeding population become established. If that occurs, we should look to our neighbors in Wisconsin and Minnesota who have learned to live with bears,” said Vince Evelsizer, furbearer and wetland wildlife research biologist with the DNR. “It won’t be perfect and there will be bumps along the way, but we need to start having conversation about the idea of bears coming back to Iowa, at least in certain places along the Mississippi River and Northeast Iowa where suitable habitat exists.”
There are about 30,000 black bears in Wisconsin, about 15,000 in Minnesota and as many as 1,000 in Missouri.
“For example, in Wisconsin, with that many black bears, residents have learned to make a few adjustments to minimize bear conflicts, like putting away their birdseed in the spring, putting away their barbeque drip pans, and by keeping pet food and garbage in places bears can’t access. There are still occasional problems, but these basic precautions result in much fewer negative encounters between bears and humans,” Evelsizer said.
Bears are omnivores and their diets change with the seasons. In the spring, the DNR said bears are often hungry after they emerge from their winter dens.
“They’re like a big raccoon, motivated by hunger and willing to take advantage of whatever food is available, from fawns to eggs, beehives, bird feeders – this is where making some changes can minimize nuisance bear interactions,” he said.
Black bears are native to Iowa. However, the Hawkeye State hasn’t had a resident bear population for more than 100 years, the DNR said. Black bears are not listed in the Iowa code because they weren’t in the state when the laws were created. As a result, the Iowa DNR doesn’t have the legal authority to manage black bear populations through protection status or limited hunting seasons.
However, the DNR has a protocol for responding to bear sightings.
“The objective with the response protocol is to provide guidance for our staff in dealing with any potential human-bear conflicts that arise. A proactive strategy will increase the odds for a better outcome for both the bears and for humans. For example, trap and transport of bears is a common scenario shown on TV shows, however in reality most states have moved away from this method because it often results in simply moving the problem to someone else’s backyard. It’s all about reducing conflicts where bears are instead,” Evelsizer said. “We want to keep Iowans informed about this interesting and emerging wildlife story and increase our collective knowledge about bears in order to live with them successfully and minimize conflicts.”
Since 2002, the DNR said there have been 43 confirmed black bears in the Hawkeye State and two to five per year since 2014.
“Black bears have some general tendencies and habits, but individual bears may go against the norm. Some are shy, others are not. They are typically secretive and want to be left alone – while others are bold and may be more daylight active,” he said.
While bears tend to be nocturnal, they get more active during the June to July breeding season, especially at dawn and dusk. Many of Iowa’s bear sightings start in late May and continue into July.
“If you encounter a bear, avoid running away,” Evelsizer said. “Instead, back away slowly and cautiously while facing it. Make noise so they know you’re there.”
For more safety tips on bear encounters, visit: www.bearwise.org
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