Dexter bear hasn't crossed into Jackson County, but we've had our share of past bear sightings

A four-legged subject of fascination has been riling up residents of one of Jackson’s neighbors to the

east.

A black bear that was spotted roaming around the Dexter area has achieved somewhat of a celebrity status

in the town since the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office confirmed its presence there last week.

The animal has its own Twitter account, Facebook page and has sparked specials at local businesses,

despite pillaging property in the area and raiding a backyard chicken coop, according to AnnArbor.com.

The bear, apparently content with its Dexter fame, has not made its way west into Jackson County. There

have been no recent bear sightings in the county, according to the Michigan Department of Natural

Resources.

However, Jackson has had its share of vagabond bears.

A black bear with cubs was reported in Leoni Township in 2009, but the sighting was never confirmed by

authorities.

A year earlier state wildlife biologists attempted to trap a bear near the Waterloo Recreation Area so

it could be fitted with a radio collar and tracked. The bear was first sighted in Henrietta Township

then made its way over to Manchester, where it was spotted foraging in a potato field.

Wildlife biologists estimate Michigan has 15,000 to 19,000 black bears, mostly in the Upper Peninsula.

Bears can be seen between Mount Pleasant and St. Johns and are rarely spotted south of that area, but

have been moving deeper into the Lower Peninsula.

The DNR is urging people to avoid feeding or trying to attract the bear.