While Zimmerman Minnesota is somewhat used to bear sightings, there have been four reported bear sightings in Elk River this month, including two on Saturday, June 23.

In one of those June 23 cases, a man told police that he was in his driveway in the 13000 block of Islandview Drive when a black bear wandered into his yard. He placed his children inside a vehicle and climbed on the hood. The bear did not immediately leave the area, but the man was eventually able to get into his vehicle and repeatedly honk the horn, which made the bear walk away. Elk River police were called to the scene at 9:14 p.m., but the officer was unable to locate the bear.

In the other bear sighting that day, a man in the 80 block of Morton Avenue reported a bear in a neighbor’s yard about 5:30 p.m. Police and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources responded, but the bear was gone when they arrived.

“We usually have a few sightings per year, but this does seem like more than normal,” according to Elk River Police Capt. Bob Kluntz.

There have been other scattered sightings in the area.

In May, a bear killed a dog in Livonia Township. That incident happened in a back yard on 261st Avenue east of Zimmerman almost at the Isanti County line. The female bear was with three cubs feeding at a bird feeder at the time of the attack.

Sherburne County Sheriff Joel Brott said at the time that it’s not rare for bears to be spotted in Sherburne County, but it is rare for there to be an incident like that one.

Meanwhile, bears have also been seen in Elk River’s neighbor to the east — Ramsey.

And, we know now that Ramsey is going to let their residents keep bee hives.  

Winnie-The-Pooh might show up in your Ramsey back yard. 

Source for much of this blog was from the ER Star News.  Some of the incidentals were, of course, from me.

 

 

Photo courtesy: Hal Brindley

Don Sabinske, Broker, GRI

www.donsabinske.com

Sabinske & Associates Inc.

763-350-7960

 
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20 Comments on Chickens and Honey and Bears, Oh, My!

JUN
27
254,728 Points 9 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Don- I've never seen a bear out in the open and hope it stays that way. The poor people that lost their dog. Are there any theories on why they are coming into the neighborhoods more this year?
4:07pm • #1
504,743 Points 26 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Don, I have no idea how I'd react if I walked out into my back yard and saw a bear. A BEAR! That's crazy! They can just eat you!
4:12pm • #2
511,432 Points 12 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Well, Amanda, it is strange, but they are looking for food.  There are so many places that they are used to frequenting for froraging that have been lost to developments and pesticides. 

 

And, yes, Eric, they can eat you.  But, the likelihood unless you are incredibly stupid is slim. 
4:16pm • #3
245,751 Points Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Don, A couple years ago a mother and baby cub was seen In Hillsborough, NJ and a few days later a large bear was photographed in Manville, NJ walking near Main Street.  Since we are living in a suburban, not rural area in Central New Jersey, that's just crazy!
4:55pm • #4
523,164 Points 10 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Wow!  We haven't seen bears down here, but I know that there is one not too far away.  Just Monday, I saw a deer cross the road in front of my truck from cornfield to cornfield, and the deer was much taller than the corn. 

But, bears, oh, my, is right.
5:00pm • #5
498,010 Points 150 Featured Posts Outside Blog Hit Router Called Shot Master

Don:  Excuse me for asking, but isn't mixing honey bee hives in an area that has bears just asking for trouble?  Now I know that much of that impression comes from my love of the cartoon Yogi Bear when I was a kid ... but isn't there some truth to it??  Plus, what else is going on in the area that bears are being drawn to the area in larger frequency??  Environmental changes?  Physical changes of businesses?  Interruption of food source?  Very interesting ... and I'm hoping you continue to write on this news in the future ...

Gene
6:48pm • #6
1,404,067 Points 54 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

WE need to make food scarce for the Bears.  No food...No Bears.
8:22pm • #7
JUN
28
254,728 Points 9 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Don- I hadn't thought of that, I'm sure people wonder why they are so close to the developments when really it was the bears home first. It's happened here with Coyote's over the years. Not sure what the answer is but, makes sense that they are just roaming where they always have but, when houses go up it can be a problem.
4:49am • #8
697,980 Points 15 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

When they show up in populated areas and around people, they are especially dangerous because they are either so incredibly hungry  as to overcome their natural reclusive behavior or they are sick...possibly rabid. 

So, taking the precautions that the man did by getting his children safely in a car was smart.  I would do the same.  And, they say you should make yourself as large as possible by waving your arms or whatever and never run away. 

Frightening thought!
6:31am • #9
476,609 Points 35 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

If a mother bear is with cubs, you can expect anything. We all know that. I think it's neat that you have bear sitings. Several years ago, the kids at the elementary school in Cedaredge got called in early from recess due to a bear with cubs in the area. That momma and her cubs made it all the way up on Cedar Mesa by the next day and made my neighbor's tree their temporary home for most of a day. It was an amazing thing to see.
6:40am • #10
424,249 Points 28 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Don~ Wow, I'm glad my dog nor I will have to encounter a big bear like that!    Wow..
11:32am • #11
JUN
30
549,274 Points 15 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

The bear population seems to be up this year. It's anyone's guess as to why they are showing up in more urban places.... maybe it's because we are home more to see them? We haven't seen any in our neck of the woods, but I know they are there as neighbors not too far from here have seen them. I am not sure however that honey is any more an attractant for the animals than nice juicy fruits and ample gardens.
10:46am • #12
339,871 Points 8 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

We don't get that here where I am but we hear about it on the local news in Westchester or other places not too far away.
7:08pm • #13
JUL
01
997,422 Points 4 Featured Posts

We have had them rustling through the trash cans here and although they run away they are nothing I want to run up on.
3:10pm • #14
624,559 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog

Winnie the Pooh not so cute when you run right into one of them for sure. I would be scared to death
8:54pm • #15
JUL
03
257,709 Points 16 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Good information for Elk River residents to be aware of! I don't know what I would do if I saw a bear!
6:58am • #16
680,654 Points 51 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Don, we've been having a lot of bear stories lately too. Our bears are the Black bears from the smokey mountains.
3:28pm • #17
JUL
04
879,351 Points 10 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Don - black bears or any bear for that matter that shows up in a developed area is of concern to anyone living in the area. We recently had an Alpaca in our neighbourhood killed and devoured and while not seen the ministry identified the suspect as a black bear
8:48am • #18
JUL
08
589,498 Points 58 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Hi Don, in some of our foothill areas we have had quite a few bear sitings this year plus mountain lions.   Keep your pets safe!
9:54am • #19
JUL
18
493,908 Points 75 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Don - I'm so intrigued by bears but have only had one or two sightings in my life.  For the right amount of money, I'd wrestle one.  Though I'm sure that would totally piss off the folks holding my Life Insurance Policy.
7:25pm • #20


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