According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, a small number of black bears now call eastern Iowa home, including two here in Dubuque County. The City of Dubuque encourages residents to be “Bear Aware” to prevent encounters.
Here are a few tips:
- Give the Bears Space! For the safety of both bears and people, do not go looking for bears, and do not attempt to photograph them.
- Avoid Attracting Bears! Don’t leave pet food sit outside. Keep things like garbage cans, recycling bins, grills, and smokers inside or covered. Take down bird feeders during times when bears are active.
- Don’t Approach the Bear! If you encounter a bear on your property, stay back. From a safe distance, make loud noises to scare the bear away. When it leaves, remove anything that could have attracted the bear.
- Alert Neighbors to Bear Activity! If you see bears or evidence of bear activity in the area, tell your neighbors and share info on how to avoid bear encounters.
The City of Dubuque plans to provide additional details about these topics in the coming weeks. For more Bear Facts and tips, visit http://www.BearWise.org
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