Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Mary Manning of Hovland recently reported on several nuisance bears in the area. One very persistent bear ended up dead after it attempted to enter a home on the east side of Grand Marais.
Manning said the bear was lawfully killed by the homeowner, who declined to speak with the News-Herald. Manning said appropriate actions had been taken to try to scare the bear away. “This was not the first visit,” said Manning, who suspects that the bear is last year’s cub that has been chased off on its own by the mother bear.
The homeowner received a “rude awakening” with the latest visit early in the morning. The bear was pawing and pushing things on the front porch. The home owner opened the entryway door and the bear stood its ground.
Manning said the homeowner did the right thing by reporting the shooting well within the 48 hours allowed for reporting. Manning seized the bear carcass.
Manning said this is the season when the DNR receives numerous calls of nuisance bears. She reminds homeowners to keep garbage cans, pet food containers and bird seed—anything that might attract a hungry bear—locked up. Manning said generally if bears do not find a food source, they will move on.
“Unfortunately this was one of those bears that wouldn’t take no for an answer,” she said.
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