My 2 Cents

We’re all familiar with the iconic “Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!” line from “The Wizard of Oz.” While it’s been years since that 1939 classic has played over and over again in our house, that line has always stuck with me and I get reminded of it on various occasions, especially of late as black bear sightings are becoming more frequent in areas other than northeastern and eastern North Dakota.

My home area of southwestern North Dakota has been entertaining some bears over the last couple years and one most recently right in my hometown of Beach. Pretty safe to say that tigers are a safe bet not to be included in these conversations, but I didn’t ever think black bears in western North Dakota would have been either. While we don’t have Dorothy’s variety of wildlife wandering our prairie, it’s safe to say North Dakota’s own version is starting to show up more often — and it’s catching folks’ attention.

In recent months, reports of black bears have made headlines across the state. And while we thankfully don’t have wild tigers prowling the wheat fields, the theme still fits as sightings are up, awareness is up, and interest in wildlife is, too.

Let’s start with bears. Black bear sightings, particularly in the northeastern and north-central parts of the state, have increased slightly. Most of these are young males on the move, likely pushed out by dominant adults in neighboring states and Canada. They’re usually just passing through, but their presence is a reminder that we live in and on the edge of some pretty wild country.

Mountain lions have long been part of western North Dakota’s landscape, especially in the badlands. I was a senior in high school (1992) and vividly remember seeing the harvested mountain lion in the back of a pickup after it had been shot and removed from a barn in a very remote area. That created a lot of discussion and was possibly the first hint of lions reestablishing into western North Dakota, and what followed was the first mountain lion season in 2005. Understandably, there was a lot of discussions about these predators “returning” to western North Dakota, and while most encounters remain fleeting and nonthreatening, they spark important conversations about habitat, awareness, and how we coexist with predators.

So, what does all this mean for North Dakotans? As previously mentioned, the state implemented a mountain lion season a little over 20 years ago. Is it time to have a larger discussion about a possible bear season in North Dakota? Second, it reinforces the need for education and preparedness. Whether it’s securing garbage cans in bear country, understanding mountain lion behavior, or simply reporting what you see, awareness is key.

North Dakota may not be Oz, but our wild side is still very real. “Lions and tigers and bears?” Maybe not exactly, but “mountain lions and bears?” Absolutely. And that’s worth paying attention to.