Posted: 7/2/03

Black bear visits FL, causes stir on Monday

Cliff Buchan
News Editor

A yearling black bear that wandered into Forest Lake caused a public stir on Monday and produced a message from the cityís director of public safety.

ìLeave it alone,î said David Schwartz, also the cityís chief of police. Officers in Forest Lake were kept busy with the bear which was first seen in the area of Pizza Hut, 956 S. Lake St., late Sunday night.

On Monday, the police department received numerous calls from the public when the bear surfaced again. On Monday the bear was wandering from the wooded area near Pizza Hut to other stands of trees south of the fire hall and west of the Maroon and Gold Ice Arena.

The bear was on the move in a search for food and was often spooked by curious humans, Schwartz said.

ìWe tried to convince people to leave it alone,î he said. ìThey (people) wouldnít leave it alone.î

Police called in officials from the Department of Natural Resources who advised that as long as the bear was not aggressive to humans, the best course was to leave the animal alone and it would leave the area. On Tuesday, Schwartz said he was optimistic the bear moved on in its search for food.

The report from the main business district was one of two bear sightings in Forest Lake this week.

The chief said late Monday night a bear with three cubs was seen near a bird feeder in the more rural southern area of Forest Lake at 18355 Ivywood Ave. N. The bear attempted to enter a screened porch before moving on with its cubs, he said.

The chief said the bears are scavenging for food. They often find easy pickings at bird feeders and garbage cans, Schwartz said.

The bear on Monday that caused such a stir probably weighed in excess of 100 pounds and was likely a boar, the chief said. Until more natural food like berries mature, the animals are foraging for whatever they can find, he said.

The young bear was attracted to bird feeders behind the office building north of Pizza Hut, the chief said.

The bear was showing no signs of being aggressive toward humans and Schwartz said killing the animal was not being considered as of early Tuesday.

DNR officials said Monday they are reluctant to trap and move bears because they often come back.

If the bear is left alone, officials believe it will move on.

But the chief had some other advise if the bear does come calling.

ìIf they (bears) are in the area, pull in your bird feeders and donít put your garbage out,î Schwartz said. ìItís easy pickings (for a bear).î

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