A property owner spotted a black bear in their back yard over Memorial Day weekend.
Conservation police confirmed a homeowner photographed a bear at a backyard bird feeder in rural Jo Daviess County near Galena, Illinois Saturday morning, May 24, 2014.
“The bear was no longer present when Conservation Police arrived,” said a statement from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
The DNR statement said the sighting was confirmed with digital photographs taken by the property owner.
Authorities recommend avoiding wild birds and animals, and to refrain from providing food by securing garbage can lids, cleaning up under bird feeders and avoiding leaving pet food out at night.
“Any further sightings can be reported by calling Illinois State Police District 16 at (815) 239-1152. Ask for Illinois Conservation Police Officer Matt Hoogerwerf,” the DNR statement said.
Several communities were alerted in May 2012 after multiple sightings of a black bear in northwestern Iowa in May 2012.
