Editor’s note: Previous versions of this story included the wrong title for Troy Ruby. He is a supervisor with the Dakota Communications Center.
A handful of Inver Grove Heights residents reported seeing a black bear Friday and Saturday nights near residential areas near McGroarty Park.
The bear was reported on the 6200 block of Blaine Avenue East, the 6000 block of Bowman Avenue and the 5800 block of Blackberry Bridge Path, all within a mile of each other in the northern part of the city, according to supervisor Troy Ruby of the Dakota Communications Center.
One report of the bear came in Friday night, and at least two sightings were reported Saturday night, Ruby said.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources received reports of the multiple sightings, believed to be of the same bear. He said the DNR cautioned residents to leave the bear alone and to keep their small pets and pet food indoors.
The bear is not believed to pose a threat.
He said it’s rare for a black bear to roam around the Dakota County area.
According to the Minnesota DNR, black bears typically live in the northern third of the state, though they sometimes migrate south to feed on crops. They are usually found in areas with dense cover, such as forests and swamps, but they also venture into clearings to feed, including green vegetation in the spring.
About 20,000 black bears live in Minnesota, with 3,000 hunted annually.
Raya Zimmerman can be reached at 651-228-5524. Follow her at Twitter.com/RayaZimmerman.
