There’s a new reminder from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources that bears live in the state, and they’re expanding their territory.
DNR human wildlife interaction specialist Jared Duquette says there’s about 10,000 bears in the U.P. and 2,000 in the Mitten, and they keep moving farther south. He says they’re searching for a meal.
“Especially things like bird feeders,” Duquette said. “Bears are coming in, they’re looking for an easy meal, and if they can hit five bird feeders in a neighborhood, they’re probably going to do that.”
Duquette says the counties with the most bear complaints last year include Marquette, Houghton, Otsego, Chippewa, and Delta. He says they’ve also been seen as far south as Mount Pleasant and Saginaw.
