Look out, Rochester area! Black bears are on the prowl

Post date: Jul 10, 2012 1:57:49 PM

Updated: July 5, 2012 - 7:41 PM

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 past 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 there are a couple of black bears living in southeastern Minnesota, but it's not a breeding population.

ASSOCIATED PRESS