The Department of Natural Resources has adopted a new bear management plan that was developed after more than a year of public meetings and consultations. DNR Director Rebecca Humphries signed the document at a recent meeting of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission.

"We feel this is a good strategy for both bears and the citizens of Michigan; hunters, recreational viewers, and the residents who live in bear country," Humphries said.

The bear management plan sets four priorities:

• maintaining a sustainable bear population,
• facilitating bear-related benefits,
• minimizing bear-related conflicts, and
• conducting science based management.

The plan calls for maintaining quality habitat and using hunting to maintain populations within social and biological limits. The DNR will strive to increase public awareness about bears and bear-related issues while maintaining research and monitoring programs.

The plan would allow Michigan's bear population, which has been gradually moving south, to expand naturally, while adopting management strategies as issues arise.

To read the plan, visit www.michigan.gov/dnr.