New black bears found living in northeast Iowa

Although it is typical to see more black bears roaming in late spring as they head into their breeding season, new bears overwintered in Iowa this past season — bringing about three to four bears to the state.

Black bears typically aren’t found in Iowa — but instead in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Missouri — but that could change, said Vince Evelsizer, furbearer biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

“Black bears are not that far from Iowa’s border,” he said.

Evelsizer said that experts with the Iowa DNR are anticipating more bears crossing over the state line and living in Iowa, but they can’t say for sure.

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“What we are guessing here is that we are going to see bears and cubs. … We might see a small-to-medium sized population grow in our state,” Evelsizer said. “At the national level at this point, they're in expansion mode, kind of gaining back range that once had been lost.”

Most of the black bear sightings this year have been in northeastern Iowa near the Minnesota and Wisconsin borders. However, Evelsizer said the bear population in Missouri is growing rapidly — increasing about 9 percent a year — and could lead to some bears crossing into southern Iowa in the next few years.

What Iowans should know

Evelsizer said it’s important for Iowans to start getting used to the idea of living with bears. Bears are very food-orientated, he said, so Iowans in areas with reported bear sightings should consider moving human, pet or bird food into secure locations during the breeding season, typically in late May and June.

“The breeding urge becomes first and foremost, especially the males, during June,” Evelsizer said. “Most of the time, bears inhabit woodlands and prefer to be left alone. If folks want to help bears or if they're interested in bears, the best thing they can do is reduce food attractants and keep all keep bears wild.”

Evelsizer said that the Iowa DNR has been meeting with local conservation boards and city officials in northeastern Iowa — specifically from Winneshiek, Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette and Dubuque counties — on how to prepare for an increase of bear sightings this season.

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He said that both the city and the county of Dubuque are working to develop an ordinance related to bear sightings and what residents should do if they spot one.

To date, Evelsizer said there have been no reports of “scary” bear encounters with the public in Iowa, but there have been times where a bear has wandered into city limits.

If a bear is spotted in a residential area, Evelsizer recommends using loud noises or banging pots and pans together to make the bear move on, since they do not like loud noises.

According to a news release last week from the Iowa DNR, Minnesota and Wisconsin's bear populations are growing as well. Minnesota has an estimated 16,000 black bears and Wisconsin’s population is about 24,000.

However, Evelsizer said that Iowans shouldn’t fear the outdoors.

“People should definitely still continue to enjoy the outdoors,” he said. “There's 24,000 bears in Wisconsin and yet there's a high human population in that state, too.”

Olivia Cohen covers energy and environment for The Gazette and is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues.

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Comments: olivia.cohen@thegazette.com