Minnesota Fish & Wildlife Issue Warning Ahead Of Hibernation Season
Here's something I certainly have never thought of before! Minnesota Fish & Wildlife just issued a warning to Minnesota motorists about black bears. It's not just deer you have to look out for this time of the year.
There have been some strange animal related stories in the headlines lately. Recently, people were questioning why there were so many cougar sightings in the state of Minnesota. The Minnesota DNR says there is no evidence they are breeding, despite what seems like an uptick in sightings.
Speaking of animal sightings, a moose encounter was caught on tape near Cotton, Minnesota recently. It happened on a Sunday morning on a quiet road and it is pretty incredible to see.
Around the same time, a mother moose and her two calves were spotted, which is not all that common at all! The sighting happened in Minnesota. I recently had my first bear sighting on my road and it is definitely a wild experience to see a beautiful animal in person rather than through the screen!
It's one thing to see a moose or a bear from afar but now, Minnesota Fish & Wildlife is warning people to be careful of bears in a different way. They shared a post on Facebook Wednesday (October 26th) with a few tips for motorists in Minnesota in the coming days.
Their post warns that before bears officially go into hibernation, they experience something called hyperphagia, which is a period of hyperactivity. This means, in short, that they are more active right now before they go away for the winter.
As bears gear up for hibernation, they are also sleeping less and therefore, are moving way more during this time of the year and especially in the evening. In turn, you have a greater chance of spotting them during your evening commute.
For this reason, Minnesota Fish & Wildlife is warning motorists in Minnesota to be extra cautious while driving as bears get ready to hibernate. There is a much greater chance of bears jumping out onto roadways and striking them with your car or vice versa. Be cautious for bears and deer in the days ahead.
According to the Minnesota DNR, the black bear is the type of bear in Minnesota and they stick to forested areas, which are common in the Northland. They may look scary but they try to avoid humans but sometimes we spot them when they are traveling elsewhere or digging in a garbage can.