Hudson -- bears are here to stay

There are a few facts and helpful phone numbers that Wisconsin DNR game warden supervisor Dave Hausman wants readers to know regarding our bear population.

"One thing we would like people to do is call the USDA Wildlife service office at 1-800-228-1368," said Hausman. "The DNR has contracted with them to provide information to callers and to document the calls for us." They are located in Rhinelander.

Nuisance bears are not the ones who take your bird feeder down, according to Hausman this is not considered a problem bear.

"If you take away their food source the bear will have no reason to go there," continued Hausman, who recommends you take the feeders down for at least a month or better yet for the whole summer. Suet is the real attraction for the bears. "95 percent of the calls are 'a bear hit my bird feeder."

"You only need to call us if the bear is doing damage to crops or livestock," said Hausman. "They are generally always looking for food. If you just see a bear you don't need to call anybody. I think sometimes people feel the need to call out the troops. It is one of the things that is frustrating."

The local DNR staff doesn't not have tranquilizer guns.

"We are not the wild kingdom," said Hausman. "There is not a lot we can do."

So if you have questions call or want to report a bear sighting call 1-800-228-1368.

"It does seem we are getting more calls and the bears are adapting more to the increased population and finding easier ways to find food."

Watch enjoy and put the food source away -- the bears are here to stay.

Tags: outdoors, hudson, bears