Community Corner

Updated: Black Bear Spotted in Woodbury

Police received multiple reports of a bear near the Woodbury Lakes shopping area and the State Farm building on Wednesday.

A black bear was spotted in Woodbury on Wednesday.

Police received a couple of calls at different times about the animal, once at about 5:20 a.m. near the shopping area, and again at about 7:40 p.m., this time near the building along Radio Drive.

The earlier caller reported seeing the bear “bounding” north through a wetland area east of Woodbury Lakes toward the State Farm building, according to a police report. A pedestrian walking his dog nearby told police the bear crossed Hudson Road and headed toward a wooded area south of Woodbury Lakes.

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A security officer at State Farm called in the later report. He told police that the bear was close to Radio Drive but did not cross the road.

Officers contacted an official at the Department of Natural Resources, who told them to leave it alone unless it became a threat.

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Brian Leuth, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources north metro area wildlife manager, said he got an email Friday morning about a “huge” black bear sighting.

“Of course, no one ever sees a small black bear,” he said. “It’s probably hardwired as part of our survival instinct to fear them.”

Bear sightings are fairly rare in the Twin Cities, Leuth said, but are more common in northern Anoka and Washington counties. However, there have been reports in Afton and along the St. Croix River.

There was also a time last year when a bear and its cub were spotted in a culvert north of Interstate 94, Leuth said. By the time the DNR arrived, it was gone.

If people see a bear, Leuth suggested they leave it alone. There have been cases of bear attacks, primarily in northern Minnesota, when the two surprised each other. A bear will typically give warnings that prevent such attacks. “They will woof or pop their teeth,” he said.

“Given an escape route, the bear will usually back off,” Leuth said.

Those worried about bears in their yards should probably take down their bird feeders, Leuth said, adding that birds don’t need to be fed this time of year.

Also, keeping barbecue grills clean, properly managing trash and not keeping pet food outside are other ways to prevent bears from roaming too close to homes, according to the DNR officer.

Black bears have been spotted in Hudson, Wis., recently. A columnist for Hudson Patch captured images of bears with a trail camera. To read that story, click .

This isn't the first time a large animal has been reported in that area. In January, a Woodbury police officer saw what he thought was a cougar near Woodbury Lakes.


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