Black bear spotted in Lake Mills neighborhood

LAKE MILLS — A black bear was spotted in the residential neighborhoods surrounding Topeka Drive in Lake Mills Friday evening, with no other reported sightings throughout the city as of Saturday afternoon.

According to Lake Mills Police Department Lieutenant Alan Witte, a high concentration of calls were received Friday evening but no sightings have been reported since then.

“We haven’t gotten any more calls about it, so I believe the last sighting was last night,” he said Saturday afternoon. “Obviously we got a lot of the calls originally, but after that there weren’t a lot of calls, and we received no calls today.”

According to testimonies on social media, the black bear seemed to be traveling alone and its sex could not be immediately determined.

“We are aware that there is a bear roaming around the Lake Mills area,” the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement on Friday. “Please keep your distance from the bear. Do not approach trying to take pictures and do not feed it. Keep your pets inside, lock up your pet food and avoid putting out bird seed. Also, keep your garbage cans inside if you can. Do not call 911, regarding the bear, unless you are in danger.”

In a recent statement, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources encouraged locals to “remember to be bear aware on all your outdoor adventures this spring.”

“Each year, when black bears emerge from their dens, they search for food and potentially new territory. These explorations can cause unexpected and sometimes negative interactions. Although they are more common in the northern half of the state, southern Wisconsin has seen more bear activity in recent years,” the DNR website states.

As warmer weather approaches, the DNR urges people to adhere to the following conflict prevention guidelines:

Completely remove bird feeders, even during daytime hours.Reduce smells from trash and recycling containers.Limit the amount of time pets and pet food are left outside unattended.Be conscious of attractants like grills and picnic tables.Avoid feeding or interacting with black bears.

“If you encounter a bear, stay calm and DO NOT RUN. Wave your arms and make loud noises. Slowly back away and seek a safe location. Never approach a bear,” the DNR states.

“If a bear is near your home or cabin, try to scare the bear away by making loud noises (pots and pans are great for this). Bears tend to avoid interactions with humans, so make sure they have a clear escape route.”

Issues with nuisance bears in southern Wisconsin can be forwarded to the USDA Wildlife Services toll-free line, 1-800-433-0663 or at 1-800-228-1368 for properties in northern Wisconsin.

Further information about avoiding black bear interactions can be found online at dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/bearmanagement.