NE Iowa Mushroom Hunters find Dead Bear

Mushroom hunters may attest that if you find a dead elm or other such tree in the woods, you may discover morel mushrooms growing nearby. But you probably won't find them near a dead bear.

Some Northeast Iowa morel seekers were tromping through woods east of Wadena last Saturday, when they came across the body of a full-grown black bear.

The hunters contacted the area conservation officer, who came out to investigate.

The officer noted that it was a large male black bear, which apparently died of natural causes. No bullet wounds were found. The body had been there for a few days. The bear's body will be left in the woods to decompose.

Area residents had been spotting a bear roaming this portion of Northeast Iowa last summer, which is not unusual.