Black bear makes another appearance

A black bear has made another appearance in the Park Township area.

Residents of a home adjacent to Riley Trails County Park in Park Township spotted the bear about 8:17 p.m. Sunday, May 3, in their front yard.

Two days earlier a similar black bear was observed eating trash at a home by the Van Buren Street Dunes in Port Sheldon Township.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources officials have been monitoring the bear’s activity through residents’ reports.

“We’re just following the movement,” said Nik Kalejs, a wildlife biologist at the Muskegon field office.

Kalejs noted Park Township is further south than most bears wander. The bear that has been spotted in the area north of Holland likely will keep away from congested areas of human activity — and should make its way north in a week or two, Kalejs said.

Bears are opportunistic feeders, Kalejs said. A greasy grill, bird feeder and smelly trash bag can seem attractive to a hungry bear, he said.

“The one overriding rule is never deliberately put out food for bears,” Kalejs said.

Kalejs said if the bear becomes aggressive or increasingly destructive in its search for food, officials would consider taking action.

“Go about your normal activities without being overly concerned,” Kalejs said.

Though encountering a bear in southern Michigan is rare, Kalejs said it’s best to be loud, stand tall and back away slowly.

“It’s always good when you make racket when you’re out and about,” he said.

The DNR has heard bear sighting reports from four different people in the past two weeks in the Port Sheldon Township and Park Township areas.

To report a black bear sighting in the Holland area, call the DNR field office in Muskegon at (231) 788-5055.

— Follow this reporter on Twitter @SentinelAmy.