DNR Now Seeking Bear Den Locations In Parts Of Minnesota
Now is the time when hunters and fall outdoor enthusiasts are enjoying time out in the woods in Minnesota, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is asking people in parts of the state to be on the lookout for bear dens.
The reason is that bear researchers with the DNR and the University of Minnesota Duluth hope to fit additional bears with GPS tracking collars this winter.
The Minnesota DNR says it has collared and studied bears for decades in the Chippewa National Forest and the Brainerd area to assess survival, reproduction, and movement.
Assessing the age of first reproduction is critical to keeping tabs on the bear population and effectively setting harvest quotas. This age appears to be changing in some areas of Minnesota, and the DNR is looking to understand how and why.
Bear Den Locations Now Requested For Parts Of Minnesota
The DNR is now requesting people to report the locations of any bear dens they encounter in and around the Duluth, Brainerd, and Grand Rapids areas.
According to the DNR, the purpose is to document bear movements on the landscape (both rural and urban) and assess the age of first reproduction in these specific study areas.
“Bears can cause conflicts when they live near people, and collaring and tracking bears in the Duluth area will help us better understand how they are using the developed landscape,” said Michael Joyce, NRRI wildlife ecologist.
How To Report Bear Den Locations
The Minnesota DNR also has an online tool that allows people to report bear sightings. The bear sightings tool and more information about bear management in Minnesota are available on the Minnesota DNR website.
Anyone finding a den in the Duluth, Brainerd, and Grand Rapids areas should obtain a GPS location (if possible) and call DNR bear research in Grand Rapids at 218-328-8879 or 218-328-8874. Having pictures, taken from a safe distance, is also helpful.
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