A black bear spotted in Indiana for the first time in 140 years

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Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologists today confirmed the presence of a wild black bear in northern Indiana after the bear walked in from Michigan.

 

The DNR received reliable reports earlier in the week of the wandering bear northwest of South Bend in St. Joseph County and made the confirmation after wildlife biologist Budd Veverka examined waste material submitted to the DNR and identified it as bear scat.

 

“With black bears in some surrounding states, we were expecting a bear to show up eventually,” said Mitch Marcus, Wildlife Section chief for the DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife. “It’s quite unusual and exciting for a Michigan lakeshore black bear to move this far south. Michigan DNR officials told us this is the southernmost black bear movement in more than a decade.”

 

Although there have been occasional unconfirmed reports of bears in Indiana, this is the first verified presence of a bear in the state in more than 140 years.

 

Young black bears are known to disperse in the springtime as they seek new territory in which to settle.

 

“Indiana does not have a breeding population of black bears, and we expect this one to turn back north eventually,” Marcus said.

 

Indiana DNR encourages citizens to report sightings of the bear to dfwinput@dnr.IN.gov or by calling (812) 334-1137 during regular business hours. Photos or videos can be sent to the same email address. The maximum file size is 15 MB.