We are asked many questions from guests staying with us, many regarding the bears in the area. We wrote this page to be informative and fun. These are all real questions and we will be adding more as we go along.

Are there Grizzly bears here?
Only Black bears (ursus americanus) live in the UP. Many people have difficulty distinguishing bear species. The Grizzly bear is part of the Brown bear family (ursus arctos), and is now currently indigenous to only a few remote areas of the continental US, Canada and Alaska. The Grizzly is a much different animal than the Black bear and should not be confused with it.

Where can we go to see a bear?
There is no specific place to go to see a bear in Copper Harbor. You may catch a glimpse of one crossing the road or see one during a hike in the woods. Bears have an incredible sense of smell and keen hearing. They typically smell or hear you, and proceed by taking the quickest route away from you. If a bear sees you, you will probably see him too, most likely his backside as he flees the area.

Where is the bear dump?
There is not a dump in Copper Harbor anymore. The EPA closed it down in the early 90's. It used to be 'the place' to see bears as they would raid the garbage every evening. When the dump first closed, the bears had a difficult time adjusting, as did the local people. Bears came into town more frequently and caused damage in their quest for garbage. They have since learned not to rely on human trash. The dump was a fun place to view bears in the wild, but the animals are much better off living naturally as they do today. Although if garbage is left out, it may become a treat for a naughty bruin.

Can bears open car doors?
I don't put a lot past a bear. I've heard stories of bears breaking into vehicles one way or another. Do they know what a door handle is, I don't think so, but they just may figure it out!

When do they hibernate?
Bears usually den up when the food sources are depleted, the snow begins to fall and they are fat enough to make it through the winter without food. The word "hibernate" is controversial in scientific circles.

Do the bears up here eat people?
Humans are not a staple in a black bears diet. There have been no recorded instances of a Black bear killing a person in Michigan at all. Bears are more likely to run from a person, or steal their food, than to attempt to make a meal of them.

What do they eat?
Bears are omnivores, meaning they eat a variety of foods. Their diet consists of leaves, plants, roots, insects, berries, nuts, tree saplings, honey and sometimes small mammals. They are considered to be opportunists and will eat a careless humans food that has been left unprotected, carrion or anything else they find yummy.