Black Bear in Bremer County Iowa

Picture owned by Jade Bergmann

The Black Bear first sighted up by Ridgeway continues to make it's way around the Northeast part of Iowa.

June 11th, 2012, brought more citizen reports from the Bremer County town of Frederika, of a Black Bear wandering the area.

The latest photographer documenting the bear's location is Jade Bergmann.


 Below are maps roughly showing where the Black Bear has made itself known.

Ridgeway to Fredericksburg - May 15th - 21st

Fredericksburg to Frederika - May 21st - June 11th

It is speculation as to the next destination of the young bear, but officials feel it is moving in large circles heading east and will return to it's home range.

I have a feeling the Saga of the Black Bear will continue for a while this year...More updates likely later.

Northeast Iowa Bear Sighting 2012

This past week, Tuesday, May 15th, Northeast Iowa, specifically Ridgeway ,11 miles east of Decorah, found themselves hosts to another uncommon sight.

You ask what sight that might be??? Well,it happens to be another Black Bear sighting.

Picture owned by: Terry Hovden       Black Bear leaving  Ridgeway, IA

In the last three years Iowa seems to be witnessing an increase in transient Black Bear visits. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources have stated that verified statistics list 30 Black Bear visits since the 1960's,or should we be increasing that number?

Another bear was seen wandering north of West Union early Friday morning, it was believed to be the same bear first seen at Rideway earlier in the week.

Later Friday, after the Fayette County Sheriff's department searched the area, they located the bear not far from the North Fayette County High School. The officials locked down the school until the Law Enforcement people escorted the bear to a wooded area northwest of town.

The warning remains to Northeast Iowa citizens by the Iowa DNR - if you should see a bear leave them alone and they will usually exit the area without incident...