Michigan’s diverse landscapes are home to a notable black bear population, primarily inhabiting its northern regions. Understanding their habitats and distribution helps people coexist with them. The state’s bear population has increased, leading to more human interactions in certain areas.
Michigan’s Bear Hotspots
The Upper Peninsula (UP) is Michigan’s primary bear hotspot, housing most of the state’s black bear population. As of 2022, over 10,000 of Michigan’s estimated 12,000 black bears resided in the UP, a density of about one bear per two square miles. Western UP counties like Baraga and Ontonagon are particularly dense, partly due to the Porcupine Mountains offering ample denning sites.
The northern Lower Peninsula also supports a significant black bear population, estimated at 2,000 bears in 2022. This region has seen a substantial increase in bear numbers, growing by 55% between 2012 and 2022, and expanding their range across 13,000 square miles. Concentrated populations are found in the northeast, near Montmorency and Alpena counties. Bears are also expanding west into counties like Wexford, Lake, and Newaygo, with sightings becoming more common in areas such as Traverse City, Cadillac, Big Rapids, and Ludington.
Factors Influencing Bear Distribution
Black bear distribution in Michigan is shaped by suitable habitat and food sources. As the state’s only bear species, black bears are omnivores, eating both plants and animals. They prefer large, continuous tracts of diverse forests, such as hardwood, conifer, or deciduous lowland forests and conifer swamps, which provide necessary cover and security.
Access to varied food sources throughout the year is important for bear populations. Their diet includes vegetation, nuts, berries, and insects like ants and grubs. Bears travel considerable distances for food, and their home range size varies with food source concentration. Wetlands and forested riparian corridors provide food, water, and denning sites, particularly conifer-dominated wetlands in the northern Lower Peninsula.
Sharing Michigan’s Wild Spaces
Understanding bears in Michigan’s wild spaces means recognizing them as part of the natural ecosystem. As human populations expand and bears increasingly utilize areas closer to human settlements, awareness becomes important for residents and visitors. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources emphasizes that coexisting with bears requires understanding their behavior. This includes not attracting them with accessible food sources. Residents in bear-populated regions should adopt practices to minimize potential conflicts.