Black Bear Spotted Near Franklin Business: Report

FRANKLIN, WI — An employee at a business in Franklin recently spotted a black bear near 60th Street and Ryan Road, TMJ4 News reported.

The Allis-Roller employee saw the bear on a strip of grass near a road, according to the report. The video shows the bear wandering near the edge of some trees. The black bear sighting comes as the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is advising people about bear encounters rising during the summer months.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, the Franklin Police Department said it is aware of the sighting, and that the DNR has been notified.

Read more about the bear sighting in Franklin from TMJ4 News.

Most of the Badger State's 24,000 black bears live in the northern parts, but black bear populations have been slowly moving further south, according to the DNR.

The DNR encouraged Wisconsinites to take precautions against bears no matter what part of the state they're in.

In most parts of southeastern Wisconsin, bear populations are either "transient" or "not present."

Still, recent bear sightings in Waukesha and Washington County "are a reminder that bears can be found in any county," the DNR said.

You can find more information about bears in Wisconsin on the Department of Natural Resources website.