ISANTI COUNTY, Minn. — A little bear cub is back to its daily routine following an ill-advised adventure in Isanti County Sunday night.
Isanti County Chief Deputy Sheriff John Gilquist says dispatchers received a call from a woman who was driving down heavily traveled Highway 65 near Stanchfield Township around 9:20 p.m. when she somehow spotted the jet-black cub in the middle of the road.
Deputy Damion Kosmosky arrived on the scene about 10 minutes later and saw an SUV with its flashers on parked on the shoulder. When he walked up the little bear was sitting in the front seat just chilling with his rescuer.
A post on the Isanti County Sheriff's Office Facebook page has an image of the deputy holding the little bear wrapped up in a bright pink blanket, and another of the tiny critter riding shotgun in Kosmosky's squad vehicle.
Shortly after those pictures were taken, Deputy Kosmosky drove the cub to a wooded area just off the highway where its mother and another sibling were waiting and the bear family was reunited.
Bear sightings are not uncommon this time of year and the sheriff's department is reminding citizens that wildlife is best left alone, for everyone's sake.
"Though this incident ended positively, we do not recommend our residents handle wild animals," reads the post.
Sheriff's officials are also reminding folks to minimize contact with bears by bringing in bird feeders and keeping trash contained and off the curb until garbage day.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) seconds that suggestion. The agency's special "BearWise" unit says while most of the female bears with cubs and yearlings are still hanging around their dens, our mild winter has caused some full-grown bears to emerge from dens a bit early to look around or find a quick, high-calorie snack.
“Bird feeders can become bear feeders,” said Andrew Tri, DNR bear project leader. “Birdseed and grains are very attractive to bears looking for a quick, high-calorie meal. Prevention is key. Once a bear finds a food source, it will likely return.”
A bear's metabolism gradually ramps up as they emerge from hibernation and transition from nibbling on plants to noshing more substantial meals. Food and food odors attract bears, whose powerful sense of smell can pick up a scent from over a mile away.
Home and cabin owners can prevent bear conflicts now by using the BearWise checklist and following these BearWise basics.
- Remove bird feeders when bears are active
- Secure food, garbage and recycling
- Never feed or approach a bear
- Never leave pet food outdoors.
- Clean and store grills and smokers
- Alert neighbors to bear activity.
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