Lower Peninsula Home to 2100 Black Bears

Michigan Black Bear density (graphic from Michigan Storm Chasers)

a news release of Michigan DNR

As spring approaches and Michigan’s estimated 12,450 black bears emerge from their dens — many with new cubs in tow — here are a few important things to remember:

Bears have an extraordinary sense of smell and memory. They can smell food from a mile away and remember food locations for years, including that backyard bird feeder or grease-spattered grill.

When bears get used to human-associated food sources, they are more apt to roam neighborhoods — not flee when harassed by people — and even break into homes and outbuildings for food.

A bear raiding your bird feeder is not cause to contact the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to request the animal be relocated. Remove the bird feeder for at least two weeks and the bear should stop coming around and move on to other food sources. Talk to your neighbors about taking the same action.

“Michigan is bear country,” said Jared Duquette, human-wildlife interactions specialist for the DNR. “And as bears come out of their winter dens, it’s important to remember that we can live responsibly with these magnificent animals and avoid conflicts by following some basic best practices. Take down bird feeders, especially in the spring and summer, clean grills after use, don’t leave pet food outside and wait until collection day to put your trash out.”

People in high-density bear areas should consider using bear-resistant trash bins. Ask your trash company if they provide these containers.

There are an estimated 10,350 black bears throughout the Upper Peninsula, while the Lower Peninsula is home to 2,100 bears, according to a 2024 DNR survey. Lower Michigan’s bear population is concentrated mainly in the northern part of the peninsula, although bears have been pushing south into urban areas of mid-Michigan.

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Tips to Keep Bears from Denning on Your Property

bear entering small space (photo from Bearwise)

from a news release of the Michigan DNR and Bearwise

Walk around your home and property and think like a bear. Where would you den up for the winter?

In the Lower Peninsula, the DNR is still getting nearly as many bear complaints as it did in July, particularly in the northwest part of the peninsula. “I suspect bears in the Lower Peninsula are a few weeks from denning, depending on the weather,” Jared Duquette, human-wildlife interactions specialist with the Michigan DNR, said.

Michigan is home to an estimated 10,300 bears in the Upper Peninsula and 2,100 bears in the Lower Peninsula.

BearWise gives plenty of practical tips on how to keep bears from moving in for the winter, including simply locking all ground floor and bear-accessible windows and doors. Bears can easily operate lever-style door handles but are stymied by round doorknobs. Extra bonus points: install doors to open out, not in.

BearWise also offers tips on how to scare bears away from your property. Bears may make themselves at home in garages, storage sheds or vacation homes that are vacant over the winter.

To a bear, these areas can seem like the perfect winter home. They’re dark, snug and often come with at least one built-in wall. Bears don’t have collarbones, so even adult bears can fit through what seems like an impossibly small opening. The general guideline is that if a bear can get its head inside, the rest of the bear can follow. Many homes in bear country offer bears lots of possibilities.

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based on news from MSNBC

A Chassel, Michigan man, John Wallace, was mauled to death in Yellowstone Park in August. The bear was euthanized on October 3 because it has been linked to another bear fatality in July of this year.

Yellowstone officials say that the July attack was explainable, because the bear- a mother with cubs- was surprised by hikers, who ran when the bear confronted them. However, with the same bear being linked by DNA to the August attack, the decision was made to eliminate that bear.

There is about one bear injury for every 3 million human visits to Yellowstone Park, which means there is an incident about once a year. However there were none in 2010.

Visitors from the east, who are used to black bears, would do well to study up on the differences in how you should respond to grizzlies. In either case, running is the worst possible choice because it provokes the bear's chase response.



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Black Bear Management in Lower Michigan

black bear (photo from free desktop wallpapers)

based on a news article in the Grand Rapids Press, "DNR plans to deal with growing bear population," by Howard Meyerson, Jan 17, 2009
and a news release of the Michigan DNR, "DNR Invites Public to Comment on Draft Bear Management Plan," Jan 14, 2009

The Michigan DNR is taking notice of the increasing black bear population in Lower Michigan. Over the next few weeks the DNR will be holding open houses around the state.

"These open houses are the perfect opportunity to present the draft bear management plan and have a one-on-one conversation about the plan with the public," said Adam Bump, DNR bear specialist. "The citizen-based Bear Consultation Team, DNR staff and others involved with the recommendations for this plan have worked diligently to create this draft document."

Most of the proposals have to do with hunting regulations, which is the primary means of controlling bear populations. The six primary goals of the plan are:

1. Maintain a viable bear population within habitats suitable for the species where socially acceptable.
2. Maintain bear abundance at levels compatible with land use, recreational opportunities, and the public's acceptance capacity for bear.
3. Manage black bear habitat to provide for the long-term viability of the species.
4. Use hunting as the primary tool to help achieve population goals.
5. In addition to hunting, provide bear-related recreational opportunities which recognize the aesthetic value of bear.
6. Promote education about bear, bear-related recreational activities, and how to minimize negative human-bear interactions.

Bump explained that Michigan has about 18,000 black bears. The population has doubled in the past decade, putting Michigan's black bears on a collision course with humans.

Bears are being involved in collisions with automobiles. A bear crossing sign was installed near Cadillac last year. They have begun moving into southern Michigan, the region south of a line from Saginaw to Muskegon, and may even be breeding there. The number of bear sighting reports coming into the DNR from the southern half of the state has quadrupled from 6 to between 20-30 calls a year. People need to learn how to live with bears.

"Education is an important tool," said Bill Krepps, of Ravenna, the president of Michigan United Conservation Clubs. Krepps was a member of the state bear consultation team. "People need to get aquatinted with the fact that there are bear here and that there will be more and more in northern Michigan."

The open house in west Michigan will be Tuesday, Feb. 3, 6-8 p.m.: Carl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center, East M-115, Cadillac

See Warning! Bear Crossing
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Warning! Bear Crossing!

New road signs near Cadillac urge drivers to watch for bear crossings. Although this is Wexford County, it's not far away from the area covered by this site. New road signs installed on state highways in the Cadillac area will urge motorists to use extra caution and be on the look out for black bears crossing the road. Similar to the familiar "deer crossing" signs seen frequently along Michigan roadways, the "bear crossing" signs have been erected in areas known for high incidences of bear-car traffic accidents, Department of Natural Resources wildlife officials said.

The signs have been placed on the northbound lane of M-115, just north of Division Street; and on the southbound lane, just south of 32 Road. Other signs have been placed at M-55 in the westbound lane just past the corner of the 35 Road and Pole Road intersection, as well as in the eastbound lane of M-55 at 21 Road. They are believed to be the first "bear crossing" signs posted in the state.

"These signs should help us reduce the amount of bear-car accidents that happen along these stretches of highway that cross through frequently used bear habitat," said William Moritz, chief of the Wildlife Division. "This should improve safety in this region. We hope motorists take note of the signs and exercise more caution when traveling in this area, which is a main corridor for bear movement because of the nutrient-rich wetlands along the two roadways. We would like to thank the Michigan Department of Transportation for their cooperation in making these signs and posting them quickly."

In the last five years, the DNR has recorded 11 bears hit and killed by cars along M-115 and M-55 west of Cadillac. Numerous other "close calls" have also been reported.

from the Michigan DNR
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