Blane Klemek Outdoors: The varied and nutritious diet of a Northland black bear

Blane Klemek Outdoors: The varied and nutritious diet of a Northland black bear

Few Minnesota mammals are as charismatic as the American black bear. And yet, few animals are as shy and mysterious as black bears are. For their relative abundance in the Land of 10,000 Lakes (estimated population is 13,000 to 18,000), observing a black bear in the wild is rare. It’s often assumed that when bears show up at backyard bird feeding stations, croplands, or otherwise get into trouble by knocking over a garbage can or barbecue grill,…