SAGINAW (WWJ) - Residents who live on a Saginaw area golf course woke up to a rather unexpected sight on Monday morning after a black bear was seen wandering the fairway.
“It wasn’t Yogi, but it was a bear,” the Thomas Township Public Safety Department said in a Facebook post about the animal that was spotted at the Swan Valley Golf Course. “Don’t panic, but keep your distance.”
Police Chief Eric Cowles told MLive that a resident called 911 just after 9 a.m. on August 7 and reported seeing the bear on the golf course located at 9521 Highland Green Drive in Thomas Township.
The resident told 911 that the bear was near condominiums in the area before it took off running into the woods.
Cowels said officers responded to the scene and couldn't find any sign of the animal. Golf course staff said guests did not report any sightings.
Despite there one being one eyewitness, Cowles said it was better to get the word out and inform the public -- and he did so with a simple, yet fun Facebook post aimed at "getting their attention."
"I guess it worked," he said. So far, the post has been liked and shared hundreds of times with local residents flooding the comments section.
One resident wrote that there have been several bear sightings in the area over the past year and believed there is more than one bear hanging around.
"I live about two miles from where it was spotted," the commenter posted. "Its been spotted out near Swan Creek, over near HSC, off Geddes near Meijer also. [If] it’s the same one, he’s hanging around -- would be cool to get video of him or her! But Yogi or Boo-Boo, all they want is a picnic basket! It’s beary exciting [though] to see them in a rare area!
Another poster said the Department of Natural Resources believes there are "more like 3 to 4" bears hanging around.
An area resident posted a trail cam photo of a large bear that was snapped in early May.
"Check your cameras or trail cameras, if you all have them -- he might show up in a few frames," the resident wrote. "I’ll keep you all posted if I spot him around, more likely hanging out in a corn field to hide currently."
Cowels said bears do occasionally venture around the area and his department is no stranger to handling calls about the animals.
Back in the spring of 2022, the chief said officers were dispatched to the scene of a number of bear sightings.
According to the DNR, black bears have ravenous appetites and will travel great distances to find food -- and sometimes they come searching for it right in our own backyards.
"Black bears are omnivorous and opportunistic feeders, eating both plant and animal matter," the DNR said. "Bears will eat tender vegetation, nuts, berries, and insects. Problems occur when bears attempt to feed on human foods, garbage, pet foods, or birdseed."
Black bears typically display a fear of humans and will leave the area if they encounter you, which is "critical" for the animal's safety -- as well as yours.
"Remember, bears, like any wild animal, can act unpredictably and should be treated with respect and enjoyed from a distance," DNR officials stated. "Whether you welcome the black bear or not, all of us that live and recreate in bear range share the responsibility of avoiding activities that attract bears and create the potential for bear problems."
If you encounter a bear who stands their ground, DNR officiasl remind Michiganders of being "SMART" and adhere to the following tips:
• S – Stand your ground. DO NOT run or play dead.
• M – Make loud noises and back away slowly.
• A – Always provide a clear, unobstructed escape route for the bear.
• R – Rarely to bears attack, if they do, fight back.
• T – Treat bears with respect and observe them from a distance.
Ways to keep your home safe and your property bear-proof include:
• Removing potential food sources, like bird feeders, from your yard. Do not feed the birds in the spring, summer and fall, when bears are most active.
• Keeping pet food inside or in a secure area.
• Keeping garbage and odor at a minimum by removing trash often and cleaning container with disinfectant.
• Keeping garbage in a secured area or in a secured container with a metal, lockable lid until disposal.
• Keeping grills and picnic tables clean.
• Keeping Apiaries (bee hives) fruit trees, and gardens can be protected from bears by electric fencing
"Anyone who is experiencing problems with bears should contact the nearest DNR office and speak with a wildlife biologist or technician for further assistance," the DNR added.
Black bears can only be killed by a licensed hunter or when human life is in danger
Learn more about black bears by visiting Michigan.gov/Bear.