A fully-grown black bear was found dead in a ditch after a crash with a Volkswagen Jetta at 60 mph in Lino Lakes late Monday.
Chris Jordan told the Star Tribune the bear came "out of nowhere" as he was driving home from Target Field around 10:30 p.m. Monday. Jordan said he had no time to swerve, clipping the bear with left front side of his car.
A police officer parked nearby was notified of the crash.
Jordan's Volkswagen Jetta sustained significant damage, but no passengers were injured.
It seems like there's been an unusual number of stories about wayward bears in the metro recently. A bear killed a dog in Sherburne County last week, and a few weeks ago, and police shot and killed a bear in St. Paul's Frogtown neighborhood within the last month.
The Department of Natural Resources says there are plenty of bears in the metro area, and say the number of sightings so far this year are not unusual. In fact, the DNR's Brian Lueth says it's completely natural.
"Last year's bears are dispersing away from their mothers as she enters another breeding cycle. So, they're out wandering the landscape and often times will learn that back yards provide a jackpot of food," he said.
Since the bears are looking for food, they're constantly on the move. Peggy Callahan, who performed the necropsy found that's exactly what the bear in the Lino Lakes crash had been doing.
"Clearly had been eating food from people," she said. "He had apples in his stomach and bird seed, and there are no apples on the trees right now, so he was getting it from somebody."
That's why the DNR warns homeowners to clean out garbage cans and take down bird feeders to keep bears away from populated areas, because they will always choose the easiest food source they can find.
Sunday, May 19 2013 10:57 PM EDT2013-05-20 02:57:40 GMT
The federal judge presiding over civil rights challenges to the stop-and-frisk practices of the New York Police Department has no doubt where she stands with the government.
The federal judge presiding over civil rights challenges to the stop-and-frisk practices of the New York Police Department has no doubt where she stands with the government.
Sunday, May 19 2013 10:25 PM EDT2013-05-20 02:25:40 GMT
Metro-North is urging commuters in Connecticut to make alternate plans starting on Monday. Train service on much of the New Haven line remains suspended after Friday's train derailment
Metro-North is urging commuters in Connecticut to make alternate plans starting on Monday. Train service on much of the New Haven line remains suspended after Friday's train derailment
Sunday, May 19 2013 9:21 PM EDT2013-05-20 01:21:50 GMT
The Connecticut Department of Transportation and Metro-North Railroad released the following information on Sunday regarding service on the New Haven commuter rail line
The Connecticut Department of Transportation and Metro-North Railroad released the following information on Sunday regarding service on the New Haven commuter rail line
Sunday, May 19 2013 8:35 PM EDT2013-05-20 00:35:12 GMT
A bicyclist was killed when he was struck by a livery cab in Brooklyn early Sunday morning. Police say the victim was riding eastbound on Eastern Parkway between Underhill and Washington Avenues
A bicyclist was killed when he was struck by a livery cab in Brooklyn early Sunday morning. Police say the victim was riding eastbound on Eastern Parkway between Underhill and Washington Avenues
Sunday, May 19 2013 8:05 PM EDT2013-05-20 00:05:54 GMT
Amtrak announced Sunday night that service remains suspended between New York and New Haven, with limited Amtrak service available between Boston and New Haven.
Amtrak announced Sunday night that service remains suspended between New York and New Haven, with limited Amtrak service available between Boston and New Haven.
Sunday, May 19 2013 7:26 PM EDT2013-05-19 23:26:29 GMT
The NYPD are looking for the suspect who shot and killed a 14-year-old girl on a Queens MTA bus Saturday night. The incident happened around 8:50 p.m. on Sutphin and Rockaway Boulevard
The NYPD are looking for the suspect who shot and killed a 14-year-old girl on a Queens MTA bus Saturday night. The incident happened around 8:50 p.m. on Sutphin and Rockaway Boulevard
Sunday, May 19 2013 6:42 PM EDT2013-05-19 22:42:18 GMT
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announced a new legislation to reduce debt on federal loans. Gillibrand is proposing the "Federal Student Loan Refinancing Act"
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announced a new legislation to reduce debt on federal loans. Gillibrand is proposing the "Federal Student Loan Refinancing Act"
Sunday, May 19 2013 3:14 PM EDT2013-05-19 19:14:07 GMT
Authorities say one person is dead and another was injured when the vehicle they were in ran off the road and crashed into Huntington harbor on Long Island Saturday evening.
Authorities say one person is dead and another was injured when the vehicle they were in ran off the road and crashed into Huntington harbor on Long Island Saturday evening.
