Spring is Here: Michigan Bears Begin Invading Human Territory

Michigan’sbearsseemtobegettingmoreandmoreboldandlessfearfulofhumans. Those‘largeblackanimals’thatyouoncesawatadistancearegettingcloserandcloser.Whileroadtripping,Ihaveseenbearslopingacrossthenortherndirtroadsfromtimetotime.TheMichiganDepartmentofNaturalResourcesclaimsthereareapproximately2,000blackbearsintheMichiganmitten,withover10,000moreintheUpperPeninsula. Whatbringsthesebearsintoouryards?Thehuntforfood,especiallyinspringtimewhentheyfinishhibernating.Bynowtheyareextremelyhungryandarescavengingforsomethingtoeat.They’llscourgarbagecans,garages,variousanimalfeeders,patios,porches,barns,sheds…anywhere. …andnotjustonprivateproperty.Theystumbleintonationalparks,roadsidepicnicareas,parkinglots,restaurantdumpsters,golfcourses,andalonglakeshores.Thebearswillrummagethroughextinguishedcampfiresandgrills,dumpovertrashcans,andripdownbirdfeeders.Ifyouhaveagardenorsomekindofberrybushinyouryard,nearbybearswillsmell‘e