Bear Population Growing

The Vilas County News Review recently reported...

"Preliminary results of a two-year cooperative study of Wisconsin black bears suggest that the population may be two times or more larger than currently thought. Biologists stress that the new estimate comes from a half-finished study and may change when data from the second year of the study are analyzed. Early results are encouraging, however, and indicate Wisconsin continues to provide quality habitat for large mammals like bears. “This is good news,” said Keith Warnke, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) deer and bear ecologist. “It means we have a healthy bear population and we may be able to expand bear hunting opportunity. The other good news is that more people will have opportunities to see these great animals in the wild.”