City of Dubuque Proposes New ‘Bear Ordinance’ After Sightings in 2024

This year, the Iowa DNR reported that black bear sightings are increasing in northeast Iowa. Last summer, Dubuque was making headlines all over the state when a bear started roaming the city. It was the talk of the early part of the season last year.

Now, in lieu of this, the City of Dubuque is proposing a new ordinance that keeps both people and wildlife safe in such instances.

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READ MORE: Iowa DNR Reports This Animal Might Start Calling Iowa Home

Per KWWL, the ordinance, which will be presented at the City Council meeting on Monday, May 5th, 2025, would "make it unlawful to feed or harass bears within city limits." The ordinance would also order residents to remove potential "bear attractants," such as bird feeders and pet food, from their property for at least 10 days if a bear is spotted in the area.

Black bear sightings have been steadily increasing in the northeast Iowa enclave, particularly during the spring and summer, in residential areas. Obviously, this poses serious concerns to the safety of individuals, the animal(s) themselves, and property. KWWL notes that the urgency of this ordinance comes following the much-publicized event last summer, when a bear wandered the streets of Dubuque for several days.

KWWL adds that in one instance, an armed man on Dubuque's North End sought to protect people and property from the bear. The Iowa DNR and Dubuque County Conservation officials were dispatched to monitor the situation.

Police Lieutenant Luke Bock of the Dubuque Police Department said the proposed ordinance is more about confirming the appropriate (common-sense) behaviors when dealing with a situation of this kind:

Make it unlawful to feed a bear, for any purpose, negligently or otherwise make any food available to bears, harass a bear or disregard any law enforcement commands. We’re kind of putting into ordinance what we hope is common sense with wild animals. Don’t leave anything out that could bring them close to your residence—they could cause you, your friends, your family, harm - Police Lieutenant Luke Bock of the Dubuque Police Department, per KWWL

The City of Dubuque has taken it upon themselves to post educational material related to being "Bear Aware" on their Facebook page. The moral of the tips is this: stay away from bears, don't feed them, bother them, and don't try to attract them to where you're standing.

Dubuque County Conservation Director Brian Preston reported that one bear observed last summer was so harassed and burdened by crowds that it collapsed from exhaustion, unable to move for an extended period of time. Should this proposed ordinance be in effect, violations would be treated as municipal infractions.

Read more about the City of Dubuque's proposed "bear ordinance" on KWWL's website.