5 bears caught on camera making visits to rural Isanti home

Black bear sleuth makes repeat visits to Isanti home

Isanti resident Tammy Madson shared videos of a sleuth of five black bears paying repeat visits to her home this week. They've showed up three straight days, and have not caused any damage.

ISANTI, Minn. (FOX 9) - Isanti resident Tammy Madson probably had to double-check what she was seeing earlier this week when five bears showed up on her Blink cameras.

Living on 12 acres near Long Lake outside Isanti, Madson says she and her husband welcome the wildlife that comes with it.

But what began showing up on Mother’s Day was a bit more than she bargained for.

Repeat visits

What we know:

Madson tells FOX 9 the bears have made an appearance at her residence for three straight days. The bears have been both walking up the driveway, in garbage cans and in the backyard.

"We usually see at least one bear every year, but this is the first time we’ve seen five," Madson says.

And this is also the first time she’s seen them return several days in a row, searching her property for more food.

To this point, they have not caused any damage. Isanti is located near Cambrige, a little less than an hour north of Minneapolis.

A total of 5 in the bear sleuth

By the numbers:

Tammy and her husband have a number of cameras set up on their property.

On Sunday, she got a notification from one that showed five bears feasting at her deer feeders, which are set up in the woods near her home. And the camera notifications have kept coming from the five bears that keep returning.

They’ve been in her fenced backyard several times, somehow without ever damaging the fence.

Madson’s neighbor, Katie Rollins, said they believe the sleuth includes a mother bear, two new cubs and two bigger cubs from last year. Rollins says they’ve seen the mother and the two cubs from last year, but never a group of five like the one seen on Blink cameras.

The bears are mostly minding their own business, with the exception of taking out a few garbage cans going down the road.

What's next:

While Madson has been entertained by the wildlife show, it’s become concerning, since the bears have been very bold, coming right up to their house in broad daylight.

She’s well aware they were attracted to the food she puts out for other wildlife, and sys she won’t be doing that anymore. At least not for a while.