EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) – A DNR expert shares advice on the black bear sightings around Eau Claire since its stop by L.E. Phillips Memorial Library last week.
Randy Johnson, a DNR large carnivore specialist, says people should never approach or feed the bear and to be mindful that the bear is looking to leave.
“If that bear has an opportunity to move on and find its way out of town, it’s going to take that opportunity,” Johnson said. “It doesn’t have the same road map or Google Maps that we have, so it’s trying to figure out its way out of town on its own. It might take a little bit of time but sooner or later it’s very likely to do so. “
Johnson encourages residents concerned about the bear’s presence to take some steps to discourage the bear from coming to their yard.
“We really encourage them to be mindful of ways to be bear-wise, which is all the things I’ve mentioned,” Johnson said. “Reducing those food attractants, taking down the bird feeders, cleaning up the trash, things like that that ultimately helps us live responsibly with bears and keeps bears wild.”
If you spot a bear and are concerned about where it’s at, you can notify the Eau Claire Police Department’s non-emergency line.
More information on how to react to bears in your community can be found at BearWise.com.
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