TRAVERSE CITY, MI (AP) -- Sunday’s black bear encounter in downtown Traverse City seems to be part of a trend. Black bear sightings are on the rise across northern Michigan.
“Spring time and early summer is generally a time when bears are moving and they are looking for habitat, mates or sustenance,” said Park Ranger Al Ammers.
The bear that was captured on 12th Street Sunday afternoon was not the only bear spotted in Grand Traverse County in the past week. Last Friday, a woman spotted a bear while riding her bike along Hobbs Highway.
“I was scared to death. I just could not believe it to be perfectly honest. I see deer here all the time and other wildlife but I’ve never seen a bear. There are houses in this area,” said Debby Page.
An increase in black bear sightings at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has prompted warnings from rangers.
Park officials are urging holiday campers to keep their food put away if they visit the area in the northwestern Lower Peninsula.
Officials say there were two dozen bear-related reports last year, and this year several similar reports have already been received.
Park officials say the area around the Platte River Campground in Benzie County has been the focus of the sightings.
Rangers say that bears often return to areas where they associate humans with food and may have to be killed if they lose all fear of people. They say camping areasshould be kept free of food litter.
They are asking people to contact park employees to report bear sightings.
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