Suburban residents asked to leave bears alone

Wildlife officials are asking residents of Twin Cities suburbs to leave bears alone.

Police say a bear that was wounded in Savage is apparently the same one spotted in Burnsville and Eagan this week. Another bear has been spotted in Woodbury.

The Department of Natural Resources says bears are seen in the suburbs periodically, especially in the spring when young males start searching for their own territory. They'll often move on if left alone.

But the DNR says bears in heavily populated areas can pose a public safety threat. Capt. Greg Salo says tranquilizing or relocating those bears is seldom an option, so it can be necessary to kill the bear.

In areas where bears have been reported, DNR central region wildlife manager Cynthia Osmundson recommends eliminating potential food sources.

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