Find a Bear Den in Michigan? The DNR Wants to Know

For the record, if I ever find a bear den in Michigan, you can bet I'm telling somebody. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), my hiking buddies, and anyone I'd prefer not to become a mid-nap snack.

I want to know where those dens are, too. Especially if I'm hiking in horrible weather, looking for shelter, with half-eaten beef jerky in my pocket, knowing a cave is "occupied" is a detail I'd appreciate before crawling inside.

Why the Michigan DNR Wants to Know Bear Den Locations

Photo Credit: Michigan Department of Natural Resources

The Michigan DNR is asking people outdoors this fall and winter to report black bear dens. Those tips help biologists with bear research and management.

Depending on where they are in Michigan, bears typically begin entering dens in November and December. Their accommodations can include dense vegetation, rock crevices, fallen trees, or holes in the ground.

So that promising little hideaway might already have a tenant. And I doubt they're interested in splitting the utilities.

How to Report a Bear Den in Michigan

black bear on green grass during daytime

First and foremost, keep a safe distance. Be sure to leave the den undisturbed, and record its location, preferably with GPS coordinates, and report it to:

• Upper Peninsula: Cody Norton,  906-202-3023, or NortonC3@Michigan.gov
• Northern Lower Peninsula: Mark Boersen, 989-275-5151, ext. 2722730, or BoersenM@Michigan.gov.

If a bear fits the research program, biologists may immobilize it, collect health and biological data, and fit it with tracking equipment before returning it to the den.

RELATED: Michigan Has 12,000 Black Bears, and Some Are Way Closer Than You Think

Disturbing a bear den or a bear inside it is illegal.

My contribution? Sharing the location and continuing on my hike. The bear can keep the bedroom. I'll keep my jerky, my distance, and my name out of an incident report.