New campground restrictions are in place at a campground on the shores of Lake Winnibigoshish following increased black bear activity this season.
The Chippewa National Forest shared the new restrictions on Wednesday, banning soft-sided camping equipment, such as tents and pop-up campers, at the Wes Winnie Campground.
The ban will be in place from July 1 through October 13, 2026.
“This temporary change only applies to this campground, where bear–human encounters are more common due to its remote location,” the U.S. Forest Service shared on social media.
According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), between 13,000 and 18,000 black bears call the state home, with mating season typically running from May through July.
They are typically found in the northern third of the state, but do travel further south as they look for food.
“Black bears usually try to avoid people, but sometimes come in conflict with humans when they eat crops, destroy apiaries, or break into garbage cans and birdfeeders,” the DNR’s website states.
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This story was originally published by Bring Me The News on Jul 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the MN Lifestyle section. Add Bring Me The News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.