DNR Confirms A Black Bear Has Been Roaming Around N. Indiana

WFIU | By Alexander McCall

Published October 7, 2019 at 7:38 PM EDT

(Note: None of the bears pictured in this post are the bear that has been sighted.)

Update — June 12, 11:16 a.m.

Indiana Department of Natural Resources officials say they've confirmed the presence of a wild black bear in the northern part of the state.

DNR biologists say the bear likely wandered into the Hoosier State from neighboring Michigan.

The Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife received reports of animal scat on a woman‘s driveway near Mud Lake in South Bend, and after a wildlife biologist submitted the scat for examination, the DNR verified it was that of a bear.

This is the first confirmed sighting of a wild black bear in Indiana in more than 140 years, the DNR says.

Here are some fun facts about black bears from the American Bear Association:

Black bears are good climbers and swimmers.

The bears eat mostly nuts, berries and grasses, as well as insect larvae and carrion.

Black bears can run up to 35 miles per hour.

They're usually shy and easily frightened.

Network Indiana contributed to this report.