By Brenda Erdahl
Emilie Newkirk grew up in rural Maple Lake and has seen plenty wild animals pass through the yard. Over the years she has enjoyed pheasants, wild turkey, and even opossums, but she’s never had a visit from a bear, until two weeks ago.
It was around 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 22, when the small black bear came to visit. She later learned he was likely enticed from the woods by the buffet of bird feeders in the yard. It’s her parents’ home, she explained, and her mother likes to watch and identify the birds as they treat themselves to an easy meal. Other animals, like squirrels like easy meals as well and they’ve eaten their fair share of bird seed, she said, but seeing a bear was a completely new and unexpected experience.