‘Adventurous baby bear’ spotted on popular waterfront trail in Traverse City
TRAVERSE CITY, MI – An “adventurous baby bear” was spotted Monday morning on a popular waterfront trail in Traverse City, officials said.
“If you are on the Boardman Lake Loop Trail today, please be cautious,” Traverse Area Recreational Trails (TART) said on Facebook. “An adventurous baby bear has been spotted along the trail.”
A video of the young bear can be found in the comments on the TART post. The bear appears to have knocked over a birdfeeder in a residential backyard. It can be seen nosing the ground for its snack before getting up and trotting away. The poster said the bear was headed toward Boardman Lake. That was at 8 a.m. Monday.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has a tip sheet for dealing with bears. Some highlights are:
- Never intentionally feed bears
- Hike in groups and make lots of noise
- Carry bear spray
If you do encounter a bear, the DNR has an acronym, SMART, to help you remember what to do:
- Stand your ground
- Make loud noises and slowly back away
- Always provide a clear escape route for the bear
- Rarely do bears attack; if they do, fight back
- Treat bears with respect and observe them from a distance
The Boardman Lake Loop Trail is a scenic four-mile corridor that travels past the Traverse City’s waterfront library, a brewery and a mix of residential areas. It is the “crown jewel” of the non-motorized and multi-use TART network.
For a map and list of all the TART trails, check here.
