DNR officials: Bears have been roaming Rochester area

Article by: Associated Press
Updated: July 5, 2012 - 11:48 PM

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A black bear in Eau Claire, Wis., in 2009. The bears seen in southeast Minnesota likely are swimming over from Wisconsin, the DNR said.

Photo: Steve Kinderman, Associated Press - Ap

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ROCHESTER, Minn. - Wildlife officials say black bears have been seen roaming the Rochester area.

Don Nelson, wildlife supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, says the DNR has received calls about bears in northeast Fillmore County, St. Charles and southeast Rochester during the last week.

The most recent call was Sunday morning, when a man spotted a bear near Spring Valley.

Nelson says the bears probably are young males searching for mates after swimming over from Wisconsin.

He says while there are a couple black bears living in southeastern Minnesota, it's not a breeding population. Many bears live in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The Post-Bulletin of Rochester reports ( http://bit.ly/MUagmG) black bears are typically wary of humans and not aggressive.

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Information from: Post-Bulletin, http://www.postbulletin.com