Michigan bears on the move, popping up in Gaylord, Traverse City, Glen Arbor

Then, on Thursday, it occurred once more.

In line with the Michigan Division of Pure Assets, round 13,000 bears dwell in Michigan, all American black bears. The overwhelming majority, round 11,000, lives on the higher peninsula. About 1,700 dwell on the northern decrease peninsula.

Though smaller, the bear inhabitants of the decrease peninsula has elevated quicker than the UPs and the animals have a rising footprint.

For many years, most bears lived on the decrease peninsula within the northeastern nook, exterior of Alpena, the place a whole lot of non-public, undeveloped nation shouldn’t be simply accessible to the general public. The inhabitants there started to develop after the looking restrictions have been arrange in 2012.

Since then, some bears from the realm have began transferring.

“Bears born there, after they attain the age of maturity, particularly males, it has been proven to go away their beginning house attain, unfold and finish in all different areas of the decrease peninsula the place we see bears,” mentioned Cody Norton, a bear specialist with DNR.