CLAYTON COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) \u2014 The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is placing bear-resistant trash cans at state parks as more black bears are expected to visit Iowa from neighboring states.<\/p>\n
The black bear is native to Iowa but was hunted to extinction in the mid-1800s. Nearly 200 years later, the tide is turning as black bear populations in Wisconsin and Minnesota expand southward.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re talking about two to five bears annually coming into our state,\u201d said Vince Evelsizer, an Iowa DNR furbearer biologist. \u201cWe haven\u2019t confirmed cubs in our state yet, but we anticipate that could happen in the near future, but time will tell.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ahead of the anticipated visitors, the DNR installed two bear-resistant trash cans at Pikes Peak State Park to help prevent conflicts between bears and park visitors.<\/p>\n
The metal casing secures garbage and makes it difficult for bears to access food sources.<\/p>\n
\u201cReally the point of that is to start to get people, park users, more used to thinking about how to live with bears and reduce conflicts,\u201d Evelsizer said. \u201cThat\u2019s just better for the bear and that\u2019s better for us people and our pets.\u201d<\/p>\n
Andy Roach, manager of Pikes Peak State Park, said the additions aim to raise awareness about Iowa\u2019s newest visitors. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere might be an ever-increasing opportunity where somebody might be on a trail at a state park, a county park, or anywhere else in the state, and just have that possible encounter of a bear,\u201d Roach said.<\/p>\n
Park visitors said the approach raises awareness about bear safety. <\/p>\n
\u201cI do. I mean, I read it right away,\u201d Sue McGinn said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think people would be more aware like to don\u2019t be leaving your trash like on picnic tables,\u201d added Brian McGinn. <\/p>\n
Securing garbage is a key step to coexisting with Iowa\u2019s newest visitors.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn this case, it\u2019s about proper disposal of trash so that the bears don\u2019t raid garbage bins and pull it out and leave it laying all over the place,\u201d said Evelsizer.<\/p>\n