Wisconsin DNR Needs Help Locating Bear Dens In The State

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has an ongoing study on black bear reproduction, and the public plays an important role.

According to the DNR, the Black Bear Litter and Diet Survey will generate new estimates of black bear reproductive rates within each of the state’s bear management zones. These estimates will improve the accuracy of the population models used in each zone.

Furthermore, researchers are investigating a connection between consumption of human food sources and bear reproduction, since diet can affect cub survival rates and litter sizes.

The study will be entering its fifth year of surveying occupied dens in the Wisconsin bear range, and now the DNR is asking for the public's help.

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Public Assistance Needed For Black Bear Litter and Diet Survey

The DNR says the public’s assistance is essential to this project, and anyone who happens upon an occupied black bear den is encouraged to report as much information as possible without approaching or disturbing the animal.

Reporting dens helps the DNR meet the sample size requirements for our study and will increase the accuracy of the black bear population estimates.

The research team will accept a den report anywhere in Wisconsin, but its team is particularly interested in finding dens in bear management zones C, E, and F, which cover central and southern Wisconsin.

Having collared bears in every zone will improve population estimates for each respective zone and support management decision-making.

What To Do If You Find A Black Bear Den

Anyone who finds a black bear den should is asked to please collect the following information quickly and quietly while remaining a safe distance of at least 30 yards from the den at all times:

• GPS coordinates: You can use a mobile phone’s pre-installed map app, such as Google Maps or Apple Maps. For best results, first go to your phone’s Settings and turn on the option to improve location accuracy.
• Photos of the den: Maintaining a safe distance, take an image or two showing the den in relation to its surroundings.
• Description of the site and surrounding area: Take some notes on the size of the entrance, the direction it faces, and whether there are notable landmarks nearby.
• Description of any bear activity in the general area: Make a note of anything you observe, including pawprints, scat, fresh scratch marks, and even, in late winter, the squeals and grunts of hungry cubs.

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It's important to note that before the DNR's research team surveys a den, they will work with the den reporters and landowners to determine whether it is safe, accessible, and in use.

Den reporters, landowners, and/or land managers are usually invited to help if a survey is planned for the reported den. The team will prioritize dens that are confirmed to be occupied.

Data That Will Be Collected

DNR staff will collect biological data from these dens, including sex, age, weight, and body measurements. Mother bears, or sows, will be outfitted with a GPS collar, one of the most important pieces of equipment for the study.

Collars help staff learn more about bear foraging behavior and locate the sows in the future. Revisiting the sows will help staff determine the reproductive success of each sow, such as how often she has a litter, litter size, and the survival rates of the cubs.

The DNR stresses that during a survey, bear health and safety are a top priority. The sow's breathing and heart rate are closely monitored while the team gathers the needed samples and measurements as quickly as possible. Any cubs present at the den are kept warm while carefully being weighed and sexed.

You can watch the entire process through the button above, which is a video from a 2024 episode of PBS Wisconsin’s “Wisconsin Life” series.

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