Bears are coming out of hibernation soon -- what Michiganders need to know

Spring is near, and so is bear season.

According to the DNR, Michigan expects to see more than 12,000 bears come out of their dens. That includes 10,000 in the UP and 2,000 in the lower peninsula.

Now, these bears have been hibernating for a while, so they are pretty hungry. So, it’s a great time to hide your trash and take the pet food and bird feeders inside. Bears are smart animals who remember where a free meal is.

Jared Duquette, a human wildlife specialist with the Michigan DNR Wildlife Division, joined Local 4 Live to talk more about bear season. You can watch the full interview at the beginning of this article.