Green Lake County officials report black bear sightings near Markesan

Markesan police say they have received a few reports of black bear sightings recently. They say it's not unusual for this time of year, as young bears are often seen wandering in parts of the state as they leave the area they grew up in to seek their own space.

They are most often not dangerous to humans, but if they are conditioned to human presence or if they feel threatened, they can become so.

Police say if you see a bear, do not approach it and stay separated from it until it leaves the area.

Only if a nuisance bear poses an immediate danger to public safety should residents call 911.

The department gave a list of recommendations residents can make to make their property less attractive to bears, such as:
•Remove bird feeders, as bird foods such as suet and seeds are a strong attraction to bears, even if they cannot reach them.
•Keep trash in sealed trash cans inside a sturdy building like a garage or shed and place trash at the curb just before your scheduled pickup.
•If cooking outdoors, remove the grease catch container from the grills after each use and turn the grill on “High” for several minutes after finishing cooking to burn off residual odors from the grill.
•And finally, do not place food, including pet food, outside to attract wildlife. Any food used to attract or feed birds, squirrels or other wildlife will also attract bears.

For more information and resources, affected residents can visit the website Bearwise.org/