Michigan’s bear population is in good shape, especially in the Upper Peninsula. Gray RM, Vaughan MR, McMullin SL (2004) Feeding wild American black bears in Virginia: a survey of Virginia bear hunters, 1998–1999. (Courtesy of David Kenyon, Michigan DNR). Oswald’s Bear Ranch – Newberry. The northern Lower Peninsula has seen an almost 50 percent increase in the black bear population since 2000, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The Upper Peninsula is doing well with a growth of 11 percent since 2012, Swanson said. Ursus 15: 188–196. Ursus 15: 188–196. • If you see a bear in your yard, make as much noise as possible. Swanson is proposing a quota increase from 5,806 in 2016 to 5,925 for the 2017-18 season. "New Hampshire, I believe, is the only state that has banned chocolate. and over 15,000 statewide. Bear … The DNR is also against the use of barrels on public land due to trash concerns as well as territorial issues with wolf and deer. ... Bear cub visits Michigan family - Duration: 0:59. The culprit, as cliché as it may be, are honey-loving black bears. Our goal is to increase numbers then increase the quota to stabilize it.". Apply for a State of Michigan bear hunting permit online by clicking here. • If you keep honeybees, keep the hive in a secure location. "There were over 40 bears killed by vehicles in the Baldwin BMU and we only harvested 50 bears so I think that indicator is supportive that it continues to grow and we've been a bit too conservative with our harvest in the Baldwin unit," Swanson said. "The data supports a much higher harvest. Black bear sightings now common in Lower Peninsula, Most often seen getting into garbage cans and bird feeders, Tri-County Times | Fenton, MI If you’re planning to travel to the northern area of the Lower Peninsula, you could see a black bear. And for the most part, bear try to avoid humans. The DNR reports there are more bears in the state, with a 29 percent increase in population since 2012. The DNR is the governing body in charge of protecting the species as well as cataloging it. Gray RM, Vaughan MR, McMullin SL (2004) Feeding wild American black bears in Virginia: a survey of Virginia bear hunters, 1998–1999. Since 1990, increases in American black bear (Ursus americanus) population and distribution in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, USA, have led to positive trends in black bear harvests, sightings, and nuisance reports. Ursus 5: 20–33. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (each updated 1/1/20). If you draw a line across the state under Mason, Lake, Osceola, Clare, Gladwin and Arenac/Bay counties, north of that line is where bears regularly occur. There are many other states who have banned bait altogether, you're not allowed to bait or use processed foods. “Often it is young male bears, about 2 years old, that are looking for hunting and breeding territories of their own. Connect with your community. In Michigan black bears, gray wolves and cougars should be indicators of the healthy state of the ecosystem. © 2020 Advance Local Media LLC. Click on the bear management unit of your choice on map below to find bear guides in that area. Bears constantly roam for food, and will revisit a place if they find food there. There are somewhere between 12,000 and 15,000 bears in the state, mostly in the U.P. Staff Reporter. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a lifelong Michigander who’s simply looking to explore our state’s most beautiful places, one thing is for sure: you could spend months venturing through the Mitten State and never see it all. Approximately 15,000 - 19,000 black bears (including cubs) roam the hardwood and conifer forests of northern Michigan. Hannah Ball Bear Lake, Michigan. "This is a pretty pronounced trend upward in the northern Lower Peninsula population, we're hoping to increase the harvest point significantly beginning next year for the 2017-18 seasons.". A black bear was spotted in Pentwater, which is located in west Michigan, in early June. Here’s some basic information and the real scoop on large predators in Michigan. "The complaints are quite wide-spread throughout the Baldwin BMU (Bear Management Unit), it's become almost unmanageable for our field staff in the northern Lower Peninsula," Swanson said. Overall, the variables I chose to evaluate describe respondent … Because of the population increase, the status of the black bear was elevated from pest to prized game species. habitat types for Lower Peninsula bears were swamp conifers, upland hardwoods, and lowland shrubs and hardwoods. Den site locations for black bears by habitat type, winters of 1977-78 to 1979-80, Kalkaska, Missaukee, and Roscommon counties, Michigan. Black Bear … At the time, native people lived in the Bear Lake area, evidence remaining in various burial mounds of the region, including one at Pierport. There have been at least 55 cougar sightings in the state since 2008, with only one being reported in the Lower Peninsula back in 2017. TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — It's a dreaded sight for Traverse City beekeeper Larry Hilbert: Wood boxes containing beehives broken and scattered, the honeycomb stripped away, the bees dead or gone. Briar Hill, at 1,706 ft, is the highest point in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.It is entirely within the Manistee National Forest.The area was carved out during the last ice age, and retreating glaciers left large deposits of sand, which created Briar Hill and the nearby Caberfae Hills.. Another black bear was spotted in Merrill in early June as well. Brian Roell, wildlife biologist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, said there are about 14,000 bear in the woods across the state, the majority in the Upper Peninsula and about 3,000 in the northern Lower Peninsula. Holly Vaughn, DNR wildlife communications coordinator, said, “Black bears are usually found a little north of Saginaw County, but not by much. Check out their success photos here! According to the DNR’s Statistical Catch-At-Age analysis – which uses bear sex and age data collected since 1992 – bear abundance in Michigan was most recently estimated at a total of 11,811 sub-adult and adult bears. There's also a map that shows the relative distribution of bear in the state. Black bears have been doing well in northern Michigan for a while. They usually only come in contact with humans if searching for … Loading... Unsubscribe from Chosen Won? Swanson is also recommending a ban on the use of chocolate products as bait due its effect on animals. The black bear is protected by law and managed by the DNR. PROFESSIONALLY GUIDED BLACK BEAR HUNTS IN MICHIGAN’S UPPER PENINSULA We had an amazing 2020 hunting season here at S&B Outfitters. What is the status of black bear in Michigan? Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. HUMAN IMPACT ON THE BLACK BEAR IN MICHIGAN'S LOWER PENINSULA ALBERT M. MANVILLE, II,1 Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Ml 48824 Abstract: Thirty-five black bears (Ursus americanus) were captured (22 males, 13 females), 25 were radio-collared, 4,224 tele- metric observations, and 1,112 radio triangulations were … Black bears are omnivorous and opportunistic … A black bear is now back in the wild - up north - after the Michigan Department of Natural Resources released the animal following two separate sightings over the … Both were spotted getting into bird feeders in backyards. Some people are already getting a little closer to bears than they’d like to. These youngsters usually are just wandering through and then they generally make their way back up to Northern Michigan,” Vaughn said. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is looking for denned bear locations in the northern Lower Peninsula, and is asking those who come across a denned black bear during their hunting, trapping or other outdoor adventures to let the DNR know.. Additional black bears, to be fitted with radio collars, are needed for an ongoing bear research project. They can get big, weighing anywhere from 100 pounds to 400 pounds for an adult male. Wisconsin and Minnesota, our neighbors, you're allowed to use chocolate in those states but there's a national push to get it banned (due to the) unintentional consequences to non-target species.". Swanson said many groups have asked for an earlier pre-season baiting period, but the DNR is not in favor of that because it can create habitual activity in bears, which could make the them more susceptible to harvest. Village. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. You can read more by following the link about bear in Michigan on Michigan's Department of Natural Resources website below. "I think it's a fair assumption to make that we've got some bear that eat chocolate that don't die at the bait sites," Swanson said. Swanson is proposing an increase to 155 bears for the 2017-18 season. Females in the northern Lower Peninsula have an average home-range size of about 50 square miles, and males have an average home-range size of about 335 square miles. Click here to view … Human-Wildlife … Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildlife management specialist Kevin Swanson said there are signs of steady growth in the Upper Peninsula but the northern Lower Peninsula is growing too fast. Manville AM II (1983) Human impacts on the black bear in Michigan’s lower peninsula. We hope our clients had just as much fun as we did! Ursus 5: 20–33. Swanson said there have been complaints about nuisance bears causing conflicts and resulting in bluff charges, where a bear charges a human or animal but stops short of attacking. We had another perfect season for the 5th year in a row and could not be happier for all of those that chose us to be their guides. Off-road vehicle use to deliver the barrels is also seen as an issue. This analysis was conducted within two bear-density regions identified by researchers at Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources (Zone B and Zone C) where bear populations and human development have recently been expanding. "We are probably still below our goal to increase the population in the U.P. Black Bears. Population surveys for the species indicate a growing population, he said.-Traverse City Record-Eagle • Store grills inside or keep them clean. In order to ensure you and your pets won’t be bothered by black bears, you can take these precautions suggested by the DNR. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.. Mostly cloudy. LANSING -- The bear population in the state of Michigan is very healthy, the DNR says, but some changes are needed to keep it that way. The next year, in 1837, Michigan … region," Swanson said. MLive 1,522 views. Currently, 90 percent live in the Upper Peninsula and the other 10 percent live in the Lower Peninsula, although the population in the Lower Peninsula is increasing. Avoid interactions between your dogs and bears as much as possible. "We show an increase of 29 percent since 2012 and almost 50 percent since 2000," Swanson told the Natural Resources Commission last week. It can also lead to more wolf/dog conflicts. The first time a wolf’s presence was confirmed in the Lower Peninsula was in October 2004, when a Presque Isle County trapper mistakenly … According to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the black bear population in that area has increased 29 percent since 2012 and almost 50 percent since 2000. Policy makers and wildlife managers can prepare for the difficult task of managing future bear–human interactions by using resource selection models to assess bear … About 90 percent of the bear live in the Upper Peninsula, while the remaining ten percent are mainly found in the northern Lower Peninsula. However, it is becoming increasingly common to see bear in the southern half of the Lower … Box 7 Wilson, MI 49896 (906) 250-0089 : Baraga Bear Management Unit Hunting … Since 1990, increases in American black bear (Ursus americanus) population and distribution in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, USA, have led to positive trends in black bear harvests, sightings, and nuisance reports.Policy makers and wildlife managers can prepare for the difficult task of managing future bear–human interactions by using resource selection models to assess bear … You have permission to edit this article. “These young bears are generally nothing to worry about, but it is important to remember not to provide easy food sources for them — put garbage out in bear-safe containers, or put it out the morning of trash pickup, don’t leave pet food outdoors, bring in bird feeders when bears are near,” she said. If they don’t find any food, they will move on. Location of Bear Lake in Manistee County, Michigan ... which ceded the land of northwest lower peninsula to the United States. Low 28F. Home-ranges of female bears generally overlap, but overlap of mature male home-ranges is less common. 16. 0:59 . "I'm a fourth-generation beekeeper; my … regarding bears and suitable bear habitat in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. • Keep your garbage in a secure location. And the problem's getting worse, said Hilbert, the owner of Hilbert's Honey Bees. All rights reserved (About Us). Researchers have also kept a close eye on the trend of an increase in bears in the southern portion of the Lower … The large predatory cats were originally native to Michigan … Bears will pick through trash to find food, and will return to the same spots if they find any. "Our supervisor Rex Ainslie has had to start an on-call system on the weekends to try and address these complaints, another supported reason that we should increase the harvest.". Michigan's Upper Peninsula Bear Hunting. The current quota for the Baldwin unit is 80 bears, while only 50 were harvested last year. Approximately 15,000 to 19,000 black bears, including cubs, roam northern Michigan. According to the DNR about 90 percent of all bears in Michigan live in the Upper Peninsula while the remaining ten percent are mainly found in the northern Lower Peninsula. As conflicts begin to grow with Lower Peninsula bears, the license quota in all three northern Lower Peninsular bear management units has been increased by 19 percent, totaling 155 additional licenses. • Keep your dog on a leash when letting them outside. • If you see a black bear, never feed it or approach it. There are an estimated 15,000-19,000 black bears in Michigan, with 90 percent of them in the Upper Peninsula. There are over 2,000 black bears in the upper Lower Peninsula of Michigan and over 10,000 in the Upper Peninsula. Most bears don’t like being around humans and will move on if they hear loud noises. The Upper Peninsula is home to most of Michigan’s black bears. There was a problem saving your notification. It's even higher if you look back to 2000. “When bears get used to easy food sources, they often become nuisances.”. Black bears are most active at dusk and dawn. An estimated 15,000 to 19,000 bear currently inhabit the large northern tracts of forest land in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula. There are somewhere between 12,000 and 15,000 bears in the state, mostly in the U.P. Manville AM II (1983) Human impacts on the black bear in Michigan’s lower peninsula. Bears can smell the remains of whatever meat was cooked on the grill, and it will attract them. Of the approximately 17,000 black bears that live in Michigan, 90 percent live in the Upper Peninsula. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Subscribe to MLive.com. Usually we do that quite cautiously but in this matter we'd like to increase the harvest quite significantly in Baldwin.". And none has recently been detected south of that highway. Here’s The Perfect Itinerary For One Week In Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Amasa Bear Management Unit Hunting Guides Back to top: Wild Spirit Guide Service P.O. Feeding. The region is subject to heavy lake-effect snow from Lake Michigan. As earlier reports indicated, southern Michigan’s bear population is booming, as the DNR estimates the bear population is up as much as 50 percent since 2000. Jump to navigation Jump to search Bear Lake, Michigan. Females typically weigh from 100 to 250 pounds, and males vary in weight from 150 to 400 pounds. Chosen Won. Of the 31 dens (16 of males, 15 of females) actually Table 1. Bear … All of these proposals will be considered by the Natural Resource Commission and will likely be voted on at next month's meeting March 9. and the northern lower peninsula, but in recent years, bears have been on the move. View Article Google Scholar 16. There are about 9,700 bears in the U.P. High around 35F. Approximately 15,000 to 19,000 black bears, including cubs, roam northern Michigan. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. South of that line, bears are not as common, but they do occur.”. Black bears often appear to be much larger than they are. Cloudy. "The habitat can support it through the year 2018 then we'll reassess that whether or not to continue to increase it or to stabilize it. Currently, Michigan hunters can bait 31 days prior to the start of the season. Gray wolves have been found only rarely in the past 15 years in the Lower Peninsula north of highway M-55, which runs east-west between Manistee on Lake Michigan and Tawas City on Lake Huron, according to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). • Take down all of your bird feeders. A Heavy Black Bear Area For The Lower Peninsula. Theobromine, a chemical found in chocolate can poison bear, raccoons, dogs, some birds and other animals and lead to death. McKinley BK, Belant JL, Etter DR (2014) American black bear-apiary conflicts in Michigan. Some people are already getting a little closer to bears than they’d like to. This sanctuary is for Upper Peninsula black bears, with the … Issues also under consideration are the use of barrels on state land for baiting, the use of chocolate products as bait and lengthening the pre-season baiting time. 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