The Forest Lake Police Department has seen an increase in calls about bear sightings in the city’s residential areas. Black bears are most common in northern and central Minnesota, but they can live throughout the state and occasionally wander into cities and residential areas.
“If you live in Minnesota, you live in bear country, ” the police department said in a Facebook post about the sightings.
Minnesota’s black bear range has been gradually expanding southward and westward, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Preventing bear encounters
The Forest Lake Police Department said bears are attracted to things that seem like food to them, including birdseed, dog food, fruits, grease on grills, trash and fish. Cleaning these things up, moving them inside and securing garbage cans can help prevent bears from approaching a home.
What to do if a bear approaches
Wild Minnesota black bears are usually shy and wary of people, and attacks by black bears are rare, according to the DNR. However, if a bear approaches someone’s home, the DNR recommends taking these precautions:
Watch from inside the house or from a safe distance and and see if the bear leaves on its own.
If the bear approaches the house, such as climbing on the deck or putting its paws on the windows or doors, try to scare it away by shouting, slamming a door or banging pots.
If bear spray is available, remove the safety and be ready to use it if the bear approaches you.
If people spot a black bear outside its usual range, they can report it to the DNR at dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/bear/bear-sightings.html.
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