OSAGE BEACH, Mo. — A black bear was spotted wandering through part of Osage Beach Tuesday morning.
Timothy Coen said he saw the bear behind the Domino’s Pizza on the west end of Osage Beach, sniffing around dumpsters. “He stuck around for 4-5 min until he caught us watching him then wandered off into the woods,” Coen said.
The Missouri Department of Conservation recently reminded residents to be Bear-Wise this spring as the state's estimated 1,000+ black bears become more active searching for food after winter. MDC says unsecured attractants such as trash, bird feeders, pet food, and grills can draw bears closer to homes and businesses.
“Black bears are super-focused on finding food in the spring,” MDC Furbearer Biologist Nate Bowersock said. “The quest for calories keeps bears active. When the eating is good, a bear can put on two to three pounds a day.”
MDC encourages people who spot a bear to keep their distance and avoid feeding it. More information and bear safety tips are available at mdc.mo.gov/bearwise.
