A black bear that’s been lumbering through northeast Iowa for nearly a month has been spotted again — this time in Buchanan County, just east of Waterloo. Megan McConnell snapped a picture of the animal this morning as the bear wandered through the family’s backyard in Jesup.
Conservation officials believe the bear — estimated to be about 2-years-old — is the same one that was first spotted by residents in Worth and Mitchell counties Memorial Day weekend. After the initial sightings were reported, the animal was spotted about a week later in Floyd County, near Charles City.
Other sightings were reported again on June 14th in Bremer County, near Nashua. Bremer County Sheriff Dewey Hildebrandt confirms the bear was seen along U.S. Highway 63 on Wednesday, just south of the Chickasaw County line. Now, comes the latest sighting — this morning in Jesup. Conservation officials believe the bear is following the Wapsipinicon River.
The Iowa Department of National Resources is advising residents to leave the bear alone and avoid any contact, if they spot it. D.N.R. officials say the bear will leave humans alone, unless it’s provoked into being aggressive.
By Elwin Huffman, KOEL, Oelwein