Bear sightings are growing more common in Iowa, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Dubuque County Conservation.
Dubuque County Conservation Executive Director Brian Preston told our coverage partner KCRG there have been around 5 sightings in Dubuque County so far, but they believe it’s one bear.
The black bear is native to Iowa but was hunted to extinction in the mid-1800s. Nearly 200 years later, the tide is turning as Wisconsin and Minnesota black bear populations expand southward.
Iowa DNR furbearer biologist Vince Evelsizer says 59 bear sightings have been recorded since 2005, averaging around 2-5 distinct bear sightings every year. However, this month’s Dubuque sightings come after a confirmed Fayette County sighting in late March and before breeding season.
Evelsizer black bears are most active during breeding season, which is from late May to early June, meaning bears are likely to make more appearances this spring.
He notes a good resource on bear safety is bearwise.org.
