Kate KealeyDes Moines Register
While going about her daily work as director of residence life for Clarke University, Catherine Smith paused Thursday when she received a notification that a bear was spotted in the Dubuque area.
Smith remained calm and collected. She instantly put out a notification to students warning them of the sighting and reminding students to give the bear space.
While working with campus security, there was a police notification that the bear was spotted closer to campus. So Smith went outside. When she stepped out, she saw what appeared to be a black bear strolling around the campus lawn.
Smith and others took multiple photos of the bear on Clarke University's campus. Smith snapped her shots of the bear around 8:15 p.m Thursday.
So where exactly was this bear spotted in Iowa?
Clarke University not home to the only sighting of a bear in Dubuque
The brown bear was seen at Clarke University wandering down a hill at the back of the campus near a fire pit used by faculty and students. The hill is near Locust Street and the traffic below the hill was stopped by police to allow the bear to travel safely. A park ranger was present to help track the bear.
"He was pretty much on our campus just chilling'," Smith said.
Smith said the bear eventually wandered into a wooded area near the campus. The bear was also seen traveling through the city, according to a news release from the city of Dubuque.
Where is the Dubuque, Iowa bear going?
The bear is believed to be heading south and was expected to leave Dubuque by Friday morning, according to a news release from the city of Dubuque. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Dubuque County Conservation and local police are tracking it.
What kind of bear was in Dubuque, Iowa?
The type of bear is not confirmed yet. It was "medium-size," Smith said. No weight or size estimate has been reported.
It has become common for a handful of black bears to make stops in Iowa over the last 10 years, according to the DNR.
Is this the same bear in Dubuque from prior years?
Officials do not believe it is the same bear that was seen in northern Dubuque County and the area over the last two years, according to the city's news release. Smith said in all her years of college residence work she has never seen a bear.
Has there ever been a bear sighting in Iowa before?
Yes, in 2020 a bear was spotted in Clinton and northern Scott counties, according to the Des Moines Register. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources estimates one to five black bears may wander into the northern parts of Iowa from Minnesota during springtime. Black bears traveling to Iowa has been an annual occurrence in northeast Iowa since 2014, according to the DNR.
"I think it was pretty cool to see the bear," Smith said. "It did provide an experience for true appreciation for wildlife in our area. Some of our students come from out of state or are international students and they may have never seen a bear like that. It's very interesting for them to have that opportunity."
What to do if you see a bear in Iowa
The DNR warns residents to remove items that may attract a bear. This includes bird feeders, trash, barbecue grills, pet food and food waste.
"This is the best thing we can do for the bear's sake," a news release from the DNR said.
Bears are usually looking for food in the spring and that can be a bear's main source of conflict. For this reason, the DNR strongly advises against offering it food.
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"This message isn’t meant to scare people away from enjoying the outdoors," the news release said. "Quite the opposite, it’s a great time to be outdoors! We can co-exist fine with black bears, many other states already do so. It just takes a little getting used to for all of us. If we all work together to reduce potential food sources around town, the odds of the bear spending time outside of town go up."
Here are tips from the DNR for possible bear sightings:
- Store garbage, recyclables, and compost inside a secure building or in a bear-proof container until trash pick-up day.
- Keep grills and smokers clean and store them inside.
- Don’t leave pet food outside. Feed pets a portion at each meal and remove the empty containers.
- Refrain from using birdfeeders in areas that a bear may be from April through June. If in use, hang them at least 10 feet high and 4 feet away from any structure. Keep in mind that even if a bear cannot get to the birdseed, the scent could still attract it to the area.
- Use electric fencing to keep bears away from beehives, chicken coops, vegetable gardens, orchards, and other potential food sources.
- Keep campsites clean and store all food, toiletries and trash in a secure vehicle or strung high between two trees. Do not keep food or toiletries in a tent, and do not burn or bury garbage or food waste.
How to prevent a bear attack
Black bears are generally a shy, non-aggressive species and bear attacks are rare, according to the DNR. The Iowa DNR offers these tips when outdoors in areas with bear activity:
- Make noise, such as clapping, singing or talking loudly, while hiking to prevent surprising a bear.
- Travel in a group if possible.
- Keep dogs leashed.
- Be aware of the surroundings. If there is evidence of a bear, such as tracks or scat, avoid the area.
- Leave bears alone! Do not approach them, and make sure they have an escape route.
Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her atkkealey@registermedia.comor follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17.
