Bears in Iowa

Who would have guessed? Not I. Bears in the prairies of Iowa? I suppose it’s not that big of a surprise for those astute readers of history. Many of the early settlers here in Iowa would mention the black bears that roamed the river and timber bottoms.

“This prairie country was only fitted for Indians, bears, wolves and ferocious wild beasts.”

and …

“… at present there is a great deal of deer, some bear, and some buffalo within reach. Turkies, grouse, and ducks will long be abundant; and of Fish there can never be any scarcity.” – Captain Albert M Lea

So, these rolling prairies of ours are not unfamiliar with that lumbering black bear, although to the modern man of the corn field, it would most likely be an unpleasant surprise. It seems strange that in the land of the plowed field, while our water quality declines, as well as the diversity of flora and fauna, that we would be talking about black bears making Iowa their home.

The Iowa DNR, after years of knowing, has finally made it official.

One doesn’t have to look far to find out where these bears are coming from, both Wisconsin and Minnesota boast big populations, and are well known for taking their Natural Resources must more seriously. If you look into the numbers, Minnesota boasts around ~18,000 bears, and Wisconsin ~24,000 bears.

Those are some big numbers.

From where and Food?

If the bears are coming to Iowa, especially the NE corner, you would have to wonder how many brave black bear souls would risk the swim across the Mississippi River, no small feat because of the width of that rushing torrent in the spring and summer.

One would have to surmise they mostly arrive from Minnesota because of the lack of natural barriers, or in the winter from Wisconsin, which is much more unlikely as they should be holed up and sleeping soundly.

What do those lumbering bears eat?

• “Green vegetation in spring, turning to ants and ant pupae in June, a variety of berries in summer, and nuts (primarily acorns and hazelnuts) in autumn.” – info

Well, there is no lack of spring greens to chew on, and the nicely forested land of NE Iowa would provide ample berries and nuts, a feast fit for a king.

The future?

The future for black bears in Iowa is probably more fraught with problems and risks than one can imagine at the moment. Why is that? The Iowa DNR, not known for it’s managed of land, soil, or animals, is in charge of managing their future.

“… Since the species was gone, black bears were not listed as a furbearer species by the Iowa legislature of the day, and currently have no protection in the state.” – Iowa DNR

You think I’m being all doom and gloom? This is the same DNR that recently CANCELED prairie chicken day.

Go check on pheasant populations yourself if you don’t believe me. We can learn something about “unprotected” or “unmanaged” species in Iowa by simply looking at the mountain lion. The lion has been present in Iowa for many years, much longer and more common than any bear sightings.

A quick google search will show you a myriad of trail cameras and other footage showing mountain lions all over Iowa for many, many years. In fact, it’s simply common knowledge with “on the ground folks” who travel and recreate in areas with mountain lions. All one needs to do is simply take a long summers walk up the Des Moines river and check the sand banks for tracks.

Mountain lions are so common now, they are simply being shot when run across by various people out in the woods, and why not? According to the Iowa DNR they don’t exist here, are ignored, and have zero protections (much like the black bear).

Again, just do a Google search, don’t talk to the DNR, and you will quickly come to the conclusion that mountain lions have been here for years, are being shot, and black bears have been here for years, and will soon suffer the same fate.

As someone myself who grew up in the NE portion of Iowa, and spent a lot of time there, the fact that black bears have called it home is nothing new. Don’t fool yourself. You just think because the Iowa DNR decided to acknowledge it recently, leading to new stories, that it wasn’t happening before, it’s some magically new thing?

Of course not.

It’s simply gotten to the point where the Iowa DNR can’t “ignore” it anymore, and had to make a statement. Although of course black bears (that have been here a long time no matter what they say) have no protections, and will not anytime soon.

The future for Iowa holds probably …

• unpleasant human bear interactions because the Iowa DNR won’t do anything to manage the situation.
• black bears being shot by hunters who run into them
• black bears getting run over or hit
• general mayhem

Instead of Iowa doing what Wisconsin and Minnesota do, get ahead of the situation, formulate plans, protections for both humans and bears, and working towards the reality that black bears have been in NE Iowa for years, and are getting to the point of being un-ignorable, the Iowa DNR will publish a few pieces of content acknowledging the bears, but doing nothing else.

Why do I say that? Mountain lions have been here years, even shot and killed on a semi-regular basis (which tells you how many are actually here), and nothing has been done. We can’t even manage our land and water, pheasants, deer, prairie chickens, let alone a bear. That is a pipe dream.

I, for one, am still glad the bears have come to wander the rolling hills of Iowa, even if it is because of the good work of another State. It’s just unfortunate that they will suffer the same fate as the mountain lion in Iowa, being swept under the rug until it’s too late.