SHAWANO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK)– It’s bear season in northeast Wisconsin.
Chris Verbrigghe was excited to have the same bear visit their Wescott backyard for four days.
“We called him Big Blacky, people said he’s probably about 400 pounds and sure enough he comes wandering in the yard and snooping around and checks the feeders.”
She says the bear had a usual route.
“He started from the woods back behind you and he would hit all the neighbors and the neighbors were all taking their bird feeders in so he was coming by us earlier and earlier. So once we got our good videos of him we said okay it’s time to take the bird feeders down. Now he needs to go back in the woods; he doesn’t need to be around people and I know they can get destructive,” Verbrigghe said.
If you’re the type of person that gets excited when you see a bear in your backyard, you need to be aware that there are important precautions to take.
DNR Wildlife Biologist Steven Burns says make sure to clean your grill, and don’t feed pets outside.
“Bring in bird feeders until you are not seeing bear activity in your area, try not to keep your garbage cans outside, if you can keep them in your garage until trash day or even occasionally clean your garbage cans out so they don’t have that residual food smell,” Burns said.
For those who fear these bears, Burns says they are more afraid of us than we are of them.
“If you see a bear try to scare it off, create an environment that is not welcoming, from a safe distance or location make noise, clap your hands, honk your car horn. Tell the bear this isn’t a good place to hang around,” said Burns.
Burns says to ensure the bear has an escape route before scaring it off.
