MONROE - A very bold black bear, or perhaps two, may be roaming around Green County, authorities say.
The Green County Sheriff's Department has received two reports of black bear sightings - one on July 8 on Smock Valley Road; and another on July 9 on Hiawatha Road, near County Y.
"This is the first time I've heard of (a sighting) this close to Monroe," Sheriff Jeff Skatrud said, adding that his department could not find the bear.
However, the matter has been referred to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for further investigation. "It's not unusual this time of year," said Skatrud, adding that there are usually a handful of sightings annually.
Mike Foy, a state DNR wildlife biologist for Green and Rock counties, said his department also receives one to two reports a year of bears in Green County. Foy said bear home ranges are usually found in the northern part the state, but occasionally bears wander farther south.
"About 99 percent of these animals are just passing through," Foy said.
Despite the recent reports, the number sightings in southern Wisconsin have been relatively low so far this summer, according to DNR Wildlife Biologist Linda Olver.
"It's been pretty quiet this summer," said Olver, whose office in Fitchburg.
DNR area supervisor Don Bates said black bear sightings statewide, however, are at extraodinarily high levels.
"It's as high as it has been in the last 80 years," he said.
Bears are typically shy animals, and most go to great lengths to avoid humans, according to the DNR. Their home ranges are about 27 square miles for males and eight square miles for females.
Older male bears tend to be more territorial. The young wandering males, Bates said, will travel looking for other bears. Some even make it to southern Wisconsin, but usually once they see the prairie, return to the north woods.
"They can travel dozens of miles a night if they put their minds to it," Foy said.
Black bears in the state rarely attack humans, but they should not be underestimated, officials say.
"They are rarely harmful to people, but they are big and strong animals," Foy said. "We encourage (people) to keep calm and give the bears their distance."
The DNR is interested in keeping track of all bear sightings. To report a bear sighting, call Foy at (608) 273-6275, call DNR wildlife technician Brian Buenzow at (608) 751-7027, or visit dnr.wi.gov.
The Green County Sheriff's Department has received two reports of black bear sightings - one on July 8 on Smock Valley Road; and another on July 9 on Hiawatha Road, near County Y.
"This is the first time I've heard of (a sighting) this close to Monroe," Sheriff Jeff Skatrud said, adding that his department could not find the bear.
However, the matter has been referred to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for further investigation. "It's not unusual this time of year," said Skatrud, adding that there are usually a handful of sightings annually.
Mike Foy, a state DNR wildlife biologist for Green and Rock counties, said his department also receives one to two reports a year of bears in Green County. Foy said bear home ranges are usually found in the northern part the state, but occasionally bears wander farther south.
"About 99 percent of these animals are just passing through," Foy said.
Despite the recent reports, the number sightings in southern Wisconsin have been relatively low so far this summer, according to DNR Wildlife Biologist Linda Olver.
"It's been pretty quiet this summer," said Olver, whose office in Fitchburg.
DNR area supervisor Don Bates said black bear sightings statewide, however, are at extraodinarily high levels.
"It's as high as it has been in the last 80 years," he said.
Bears are typically shy animals, and most go to great lengths to avoid humans, according to the DNR. Their home ranges are about 27 square miles for males and eight square miles for females.
Older male bears tend to be more territorial. The young wandering males, Bates said, will travel looking for other bears. Some even make it to southern Wisconsin, but usually once they see the prairie, return to the north woods.
"They can travel dozens of miles a night if they put their minds to it," Foy said.
Black bears in the state rarely attack humans, but they should not be underestimated, officials say.
"They are rarely harmful to people, but they are big and strong animals," Foy said. "We encourage (people) to keep calm and give the bears their distance."
The DNR is interested in keeping track of all bear sightings. To report a bear sighting, call Foy at (608) 273-6275, call DNR wildlife technician Brian Buenzow at (608) 751-7027, or visit dnr.wi.gov.