One of the biggest weekends for camping, Memorial Day, is coming up in Minnesota. If you are planning on heading out in your camper or tent in Southeast Minnesota, the Wabasha County Sheriff's Office has a warning for those in the area due to a black bear sighting.
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Wabasha County Sheriff's Office Sends Out An Alert Regarding Black Bear Sighting
On Wednesday, May 20th, the public was alerted regarding safety concerns due to a black bear sighting at the Kruger Campground Park in the Wabasha area.
There have been recent black bear sightings at Kruger Campground Park. If you are camping or hiking, please be aware and make sure to keep food secure, clean up after yourself, and keep pets and children nearby. If you happen to encounter a bear, back away slowly, never run, and make loud noises from a safe distance. This is their home and you are visiting them!
2026 Map of Bear Sightings in Minnesota
Minnesota may be home to 10,000 lakes but it is also home to roughly 13,000 to 18,000 black bears. While most of those stay in their primary area, which is up north, some have migrated throughout the years to areas near Rochester and the western part of the state.
To help understand the areas where black bears are now living, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources developed an online site where black bear sightings can be added. Now that winter is behind us and warmer weather is here, black bears sightings are being reported throughout the state.
A few of the black bear sightings this year in Southeast Minnesota include the following:
3.21.26 - near Hwy 247 just east of Plainview, MN
3.31.26 - just north of Albert Lea, MN and south of Clarks Grove
3.31.26 - near Seven Springs Wildlife Management Area in SE Minnesota
4.26.26 - near Chatfield, MN
5.3.26 - near Owatonna, MN by Rose St.
5.5.26 - near Claremont, MN
5.6.26 - black bear and cub spotted near New Beginnings Church in Owatonna, MN
5.9.26 - Owatonna, MN by Walker Dr.
5.9.26 - south side of Kenyon, MN
5.10.26 - north side of Kenyon, MN
5.11.26 - east of Faribault near Davis Ave
See all of the bear sightings on the MN DNR map here.
How To Report a Bear Sighting in Minnesota
If you happen to see a black bear in Minnesota outside of the primary area, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources would love your help tracking those sightings.
If you see a bear, please submit it to the "Report a Bear Sighting" page on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website.
The 10 Safest Cities In Minnesota This Year [2026]
Gallery Credit: Lauren Wells
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