The 7 Most Densely Bear-Populated Places in Minnesota

The land of 10,000 lakes is also land of (approximately) 24,000 American black bears. This iconic species chiefly resides in Minnesota’s northern coniferous forests, but their presence in central Minnesota and in urbaThe land of 10,000 lakes is also land of (approximately) 24,000 American black bears. This iconic species chiefly resides in Minnesota’s northern coniferous forests, but their presence in central Minnesota and in urban areas grows as their range expands to these areas. They’ll call home anywhere quiet in the state—north or south—with adequate food and shelter. While these animals are attracted to swamps and dense forests, they’ll break cover to eat crops and raid trash bins or campsites.

To better understand the species’ movements in the state, the Minnesota Department for Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking the public’s help in tracking them as their range slowly expands south- and westward. The DNR requests that anyone who spots a black bear outside its traditional range to report it.

The American black bear is quite a sight. While they are the smallest bear on the North American continent, their slight size (comparably) takes away no excitement at all when you spot one. Let’s discover the seven places in Minnesota you will most likely encounter one.

1. Chippewa National Forest

Chippewa National Forest stretches over 1.6 million acres, and black bears inhabit every corner of this prime or “core” bear country. The DNR has been monitoring them in this area since the 1980s, although they have long inhabited the area. Approximately 1,300 lakes and nearly 1,000 streams within Chippewa provide water, food, and habitat for the animals living there. Chippewa is also a recreational playground for state residents and visitors alike, meaning encounters between people and bears are a possibility. Black bears are often spotted on trails and near campsites. It’s important to be familiar with and to follow the DNR’s guidelines for recreating safely in bear country.

2. Superior National Forest

Superior National Forest is situated in northeastern Minnesota and is bordered by Lake Superior, Canada, and Voyageurs National Park. Of its three million acres, 445,000 are lakes and streams; what remains is an epic mix of pine and spruce trees, rocky landscapes, the state’s highest point, Eagle Mountain, at 2,301 feet, the Misquah Hills, and boreal forest. As such, it is no surprise that gray wolves, moose, deer, and black bears, among a lot more, inhabit Superior National Forest. Food and trash are the main reported reasons for human and bear interactions here, especially around the Lac La Croix and Agnes Lake areas and north of Gunflint Trail.

3. Voyageurs National Park

The 218,055-acre Voyageurs National Park is a black bear hot spot. Rocky outcrops, forests, lakes, streams, and wetlands fill this wild outdoor space. It’s described as a place of transition between land and aquatic landscapes. Bear encounters occur here on trails and near campsites. In 2019, just north of the park in Canada, a black bear killed a woman. Fatal encounters with bears aren’t common, but they’re timely reminders that bears are wild, and caution should be exercised at all times. Refer to the DNR’s guidelines for recreating safely in bear country

4. Polk County

In September 2022, Polk County produced the state’s newest record for the largest bear ever harvested with a muzzleloader. Ben Genereux shot a black bear with his .50-caliber muzzleloader whose skull measured 21-9/16 inches, according to the Boone and Crockett Club score sheet. Weight of an animal is not used to determine size, although this bear’s live-weight was 463 pounds. Polk County is located in northwestern Minnesota and is best known for Maple Lake, which is surrounded by a large sugar maple forest, making it perfect black bear habitat.

5. Grand Portage State Forest

Grand Portage State Forest is about 10 miles northeast of Grand Marais, which is situated on the north shore of Lake Superior. With more than 100,000 acres of swamps, lakes, forests, and rivers, Grand Portage State Forest is prime bear habitat. The forest also serves a gateway to a number of other recreation areas where bears congregate, including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, the Border Route Trail, the Grand Portage Trail on the Grand Portage Indian Reservation, and the Judge C.R. Magney State Park. The most significant encounter between a person and a bear in this area occurred in 2003 when Kim Heil-Smith’s opened the door from her house to the garage to find a sow and her cub. A scuffle initiated by the bear ensued, but Heil-Smith fought off the female black bear, as is recommended.

6. Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW)

Situated in the heart of Superior National Forest, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) is one of Minnesota’s most bear-heavy spots, and it is also home to the largest population of American gray wolves. BWCAW is a 1,090,000-acre spread of forests, lakes, and streams and is a popular spot for campers, kayakers, and anglers. Some of the most trodden trails include the Pow Wow Trail, Border Route Trail, Snowbank Trail, and the Sioux-Hustler Trail. There’s potential to encounter black bears along all these trails. According to the DNR, bear hotspots in the Boundary Waters include Clearwater, Rose, Duncan, Alder, Moon, and Caribou lakes.

7. Pillsbury State Forest

Pillsbury State Forest is named for a former Minnesota governor, John Pillsbury, who left 1,000 acres of land to the state. It’s located in Cass County in central Minnesota. The forest is full of dense woods, rocky areas, and water bodies that make such great wildlife habitats. Wild turkeys, whitetail deer, bald eagles, and gray wolves roam the area along with black bears. It’s also popular with people who enjoy hiking and kayaking. Encounters are rare, although they do happen. In May 2023, a woman staying at a cabin outside the forest was wounded by a black bear after it was startled by her dog. It’s believed the bear wandered over from Pillsbury State Forest.

Minnesota DNR Bear Advice

Minnesota is a prime bear habitat. Therefore, the Department of Natural Resources has provided guidance for living and recreating in bear country. The basics include:

• Never feed bears because it teaches them to approach humans.
• Stay in a group, and keep children close.
• Keep dogs on a leash: State park rules in Minnesota require a leash at all times.
• Make periodic noise so bears can avoid an encounter.
• Double bag food and clean caught fish away from camp.
• Don’t keep food, trash, or clothes worn while cooking in your tent.
• Use bear-proof trash containers when you spot them.
• Set up camps away from dense forest lines and natural food sources.

If you see a bear or one approaches you in Minnesota, the DNR suggests the following:

• Do not approach it, stand still, then walk away quietly and slowly.
• Never run away, or it may provoke a hunting response.
• Hold your ground. Wave your arms and shout, “Hey bear,” or bang pots and pans together.
• Use bear spray if the bear does not stop approaching.
• Do NOT play dead. Always fight back if attacked.

Bear Hunting in Minnesota

The majority of Minnesota’s state land is open to bear hunting with a permit and license. Poachers risk hefty fines and prison sentences without them because the DNR strictly manages its bear population. A lottery occurs in April, with permits given in June, for one bear per hunter in an allocated area. The hunting season runs from September 1 to October 15, and hunters are requested not to shoot tagged bears, which are part of ongoing studies.