WDNR Underestimated Again

From WBAY.

What a surprise!

"DNR Underestimated Black Bear Population

Updated: Dec 18, 2008 06:57 PM " WBAY-TV Green Bay-Fox Cities-Northeast Wisconsin News: DNR Underestimated Black Bear Population

By Jeff Alexander

Wisconsin wildlife officials now believe they have severely underestimated the state's black bear population. They say the proof of that is no further than the outskirts of Green Bay.

It was last fall Suamico resident Ted Gaura discovered he had a new neighbor living in his woods.

His deer trail camera captured the evidence.

"Obviously we knew that we have evidence right there that there's a bear in the area, and we've heard for quite some time -- there's been different sightings and such -- and then this year again we had one show up on the deer cam as well," Gaura said.

Jeff Pritzl is a wildlife biologist with the Department of Natural Resources. "Right here in Brown County, it's not that uncommon any more to hear about or even see black bears," he said.

Pritzl said the bear population is booming all over the state.

"Based on some of the newer information, we're thinking there could be as many as 30,000 animals, black bears in Wisconsin, whereas we've typically been considering it to be more in the 15,000 neighborhood."

DNR wildlife managers say they've underestimated the bear population in Wisconsin, and they say many of the bears are heading south.

"More people are dealing with bear issues. Where they thought 'I don't live in bear country,' well, more of Wisconsin is becoming bear country."

Pritzl says calls flooded his office throughout the summer and fall.

"Suamico, Sobieski, all the way down into the Hobart area, of people regularly seeing black bears moving through the neighborhood."

For the past ten years the State has paid Lion Crevier to pick up dead deer along Brown county roads. He's not just picking up deer any more.

"All of a sudden, this year, two calls and two bear. Quite surprising to get two in one year, so they're migrating south, I'd say," said Crevier.

The bears were hit by cars in Suamico, not far from Gaura's home.

It's estimated there are now up to ten, living and reproducing in Brown County, including at the Reforestation Camp where signs now warn visitors they may come across a bear.

And Pritzl says for those living in outlying areas, some habits have to change. Bird feeders and garbage cans might not be safe outside at night.

"What that means to people south of Highway 29 is that they're going to have to live like people do in the northern part of Wisconsin and just take into consideration that anything a bear could perceive as food they're going to, and that's going to bring them into an area looking for food," Pritzl said.

Despite plans to increase bear permits by 50 percent, the DNR expects bears to continue moving closer to cities.

"It's different, it's different when you're walking out in the dark whether it's the morning or night and you're hunting for deer and knowing that there's bears out there also," Gaura said.