Calls increasing on nuisance bears

Natural resource officers with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources have reported calls this month about nuisance bears in the area. Cloquet area officer Tony Elwell said, "trash cans need to be secured inside, and all food sources including dog food and especially bird feeders need to be removed completely, or bear problems will continue."

Brookston officer Derek Peterlin said that once the attractants are inaccessible, "the bear will likely move on and have no reason to return."

Bears are weaning their young this time of year and teaching them to forage on their own. The DNR also says that August is the month when bears begin to seek higher volumes of food to fatten up for the winter hibernation.