Black bear now near Ford Airport

LOWELL, Mich. (WOOD) - A black bear has been spotted drawing nearer to Gerald R. Ford International Airport.

The bear may be the same animal spotted on Sunday in Greenville and Monday north of Lowell.

Mike Krisel, who lives in the 2800 block of Snow Avenue in Lowell, saw the bear in his yard. That's not far east of the airport.

Krisel told 24 Hour News 8 that at one point, he was less than 10 feet from the animal.

There are between 15,000 and 19,000 black bears in Michigan -- but only 10% live in the Lower Peninsula. Most of that 10% live in the northern Lower Peninsula, according to the DNR.

However, authorities say, it is becoming increasingly common to see black bears in the southern part of the Lower Peninsula.

"The reality is that for the last five-plus years, we have had established bear populations in the greater Grand Rapids area. So it is where they are supposed to be," the State of Michigan's bear expert Adam Bump told 24 Hour News 8 on Tuesday.

Bump said the Michigan black bear is on the move south.

The DNR says bears enter populated areas in search of food. It recommends residents keep an eye on trash cans, dumpsters and bird feeders.

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