Bear sightings
That bear that was reported traveling across Southern Illinois last week through White County has apparently crossed the Wabash River and continues its trek north and east.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources confirmed a black bear sighting in Vanderburgh County just before sunrise Sunday Morning.
The bear was sighted near Elberfeld closest to the Warrick County area.
Biologists confirmed the bear from photos taken by the landowner.
“This is Indiana’s fourth confirmed black bear,” said Brad Westrich, DNR mammalogist. “With expanding bear populations in neighboring states, this is expected.”
Reports indicated the bear had crossed the Mississippi River from Missouri and had been sighted at Rend Lake and then north of Carmi, about a mile south of Zion Church. Subsequent reports late last week noted the bear had been sighted near Crossville.
That was prior to the Sunday report from Indiana.
Officials say bears are rarely aggressive towards humans.
If you see a black bear:
– Do not feed it.
– Observe it from a distance.
– Do not climb a tree.
– Advertise your presence by shouting and waving your arms and backing slowly away.
– Report bear sightings to the Indiana Division of Fish & Wildlife at https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/wildlife-resources/animals/report-a-mammal/
