Bear hunting harvest in Minnesota has plummeted this year due to an abundance of wild food crops, according to wildlife experts. The presence of acorns and berries in the woods has kept bears away from hunter-bait stations. Additionally, warm temperatures at the beginning of the season likely deterred hunters from going into the woods.
Data from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources shows that the preliminary bear harvest for 2023 was only 1,802 bears, a 22% decrease from the previous year and a 19% decrease from the five-year average. This is in contrast to the harvest of 3,203 bears in 2020.
The bear hunting season in Minnesota ran from September 1 to October 15, with the majority of bears typically harvested in the first two weeks. Although Minnesota has a large population of black bears, estimated between 12,000 and 16,000, the numbers have been declining in areas with denser forests and no nearby farmland.
Despite the decline in the bear harvest, demand for bear hunting permits remains high. The Department of Natural Resources received a record-breaking 26,138 applications for the lottery of 4,035 permits this year. Additionally, there are hundreds more permits available in the no-quota zone.
One positive outcome of the abundance of wild food is a decrease in reports of problem bears this summer. Complaints from property owners about nuisance bears have reached their lowest levels in at least seven years, coming in 40% below the long-term average. This decrease is attributed to bears finding ample nourishment in the form of acorns, berries, and other natural resources.
The decline in the bear hunting harvest, along with the reduced reports of problem bears, highlights the significant impact of the availability of food on bear populations in the wild.
