SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – Black bears have been spotted in South Dakota this week. 

According to the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department, there’s been two confirmed black bear sightings. 

Seeing ghosts on city streets

David Dalke sent KELOLAND News a video of a black bear at Pelican Lake on, which is located just southwest of Watertown. The bear was spotted on Wednesday evening. His dog barking at the bear is seen the video above.

Dalke said the bear was not aggressive and only became curious about the dog when the dog was barking. The dog was on a leash cord

The dog was “the one picking the fight,” Dalke said. He was barking and acting protective.

“The bear was still not looking threatening at all,” Dalke said. Instead, “it seemed like he wanted to play with my dog,” Dalke said.

Photo from April Pietz.Photo from Alexis Rowland.

But even playful bear at 200 pounds could still injury his 25-pound dog, Dalke said.

Dalke said he had stood up and was calling for his dog when the bear walked away.

“It was more about chasing it away,” Dalke said then feeling threatened by the bear.

The bear left and headed east down the shoreline through other yards.

Boats followed the bear’s progress which included a stop near the dock where Alexis Rowland was fishing with family members.

A boater alerted the anglers to a black bear standing near the entrance to the dock.

“He saw us for sure,” Rowland said. “We didn’t know what to do…”

Her dad advised Rowland and her younger brother to stand still. Eventually, the bear walked away.

“We left our stuff on the dock and left (the dock) when it was a good distance from us,” Rowland said. Her heart was still racing when they got into their vehicle but then, she realized she should take a video of the bear.

“It amazed me. You don’t see anything like this in daily life,” Rowland said. The anglers picked up their gear after completing a video.

In a house yard on Pelican Lake, April Pietz and neighbors ran indoors after a boater told them a bear was approaching.

“It was shocking. Honestly, shocking,” Pietz said of seeing a bear on the house yard. Still, “It was cool.”

Like Dalke, Pietz described the bear as casually walking the shoreline. “It was really in no hurry,” Pietz said.

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Dalke had lived in northern Minnesota for several years where he saw multiple black bears. They don’t have aggressive personalities but people should not feed them or leave their pets outside if they know there is a bear in the area, he said.

Bears will return for food and pets can act protectively, Dalke said.

“Individuals are encouraged to keep their pets indoors/under supervision, remind children to be aware of their surroundings and never approach a bear, and to put away food items such as garbage, bird seed, or other potential outdoor food sources,” the GFP said in a social media post. “The bears are likely to leave the area soon, and sightings will decrease as the weather warms. For more information on how to be bear safe visit BEARWISE.org.”

Wednesday’s experience was the first time Pietz had seen a bear in the wild.

“It was pretty neat. A once in a lifetime experience,” Pietz said.

Her brother Keith Pietz owns Proud Angler Bait & Tackle in Watertown.

“In my 40 years, I’ve never heard of a bear around here,” Keith Pietz said. “I’ve heard of moose or elk but never a bear in my life.”