Ring camera captures black bear headed through Stoddard area

The Brief

• A black bear was captured on a Ring camera in Stoddard early Wednesday morning around 3:30 a.m.

• Wisconsin DNR experts say the bear has traveled about 35 miles north over the past week, moving from Crawford County to Vernon County

• The bear appears healthy and is likely searching for suitable territory to establish a winter den

STODDARD, Wis. (WKBT) — A black bear made an early morning appearance in Stoddard Wednesday, captured on a homeowner’s Ring camera as it walked past a garage on Whitetail Drive around 3:30 a.m.

The sighting is part of a larger pattern tracked by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources experts, who say the bear has been traveling north for more than a week while searching for suitable territory.

Randy Johnson, a large carnivore specialist with the Wisconsin DNR, said the bear has covered significant ground in recent days. The animal was first reported near Eastman in Crawford County on October 21, then photographed on a trail camera south of Genoa in Vernon County on October 26, before appearing in Stoddard on October 29.

“This bear appears to be on a northward walk and has covered a straight-line distance of some 35 miles over the last 7 or 8 days,” Johnson said in an email response about the sighting.

The DNR specialist emphasized that the bear’s behavior is normal and shows no signs of illness or distress. Johnson noted the animal appears to be in good condition with healthy fat reserves visible in the video footage.

“This behavior is not unusual for bears. The bear is likely not sick or anything like that,” Johnson said. “It is likely a male bear that has been transient, potentially all summer, looking for a suitable place to establish a territory of its own.”

Johnson explained that this scenario plays out annually in southern Wisconsin, with individual bears moving across the landscape as they search for territory. Many Wisconsin bears begin denning in October as natural food sources become scarce.

“I expect this bear will likely start looking for a den soon, but could remain active for several weeks yet,” Johnson said.

The DNR has received no reports of conflicts or unusual behavior from the bear during its journey north. Johnson expects the animal will continue traveling until it finds suitable habitat for establishing a winter den.

For residents who might encounter the bear, Johnson offered clear safety guidance. He advised people not to approach the animal or attempt to feed it, emphasizing the importance of maintaining distance while observing.

“Please do not approach the bear or try to offer it food. Keep your distance and enjoy the moment,” Johnson said. “The bear is likely to continue on its way, but if it is provided food it may lead to it settling in or even denning in a less than desirable location.”

The DNR encourages anyone who spots the bear to report their observation through the Wildlife Observation tool on the department’s website. These reports help wildlife specialists track animal movements and behavior patterns across the state.

Ring camera captures black bear headed through Stoddard area | Local News

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