Black bears in Mississippi

The following information is summarized from a poster, "Black Bears in Mississippi" produced by the Mississippi Black Bear Restoration Task Force in conjunction with the Black Bear Conservation Committee.

Black Bear Facts

The scientific community recognizes eight species of bears world wide. In North America there are three species; polar bear, grizzly or brown bear, and black bear.

Black bears (Ursus americanus) were once found throughout North America from Alaska and Canada to northern Mexico. Based on genetic and morphological differences, there are 16 subspecies of black bears. The only species of bears we have in Mississippi are black bears. State Laws in Mississippi protects all black bears.

The fur color of most black bears is dark brown, black or chocolate-brown. Some bears in Mississippi may have a white chest blaze. Bears have color vision, hear very well and have a keen sense of smell. Black bears in the South are smaller than bears from the North. Adult Southern bears usually weigh between 120 to 275 pounds, although a very healthy male bear might weigh 400 pounds or more.

Black bears are omnivores, eating both plant and animal matter. Black bears are opportunistic feeders, not active predators. They eat almost anything that is easily available such as insects, plant roots, berries, nuts, honey, fish, crayfish and carrion.

Black bears typically live in mixed deciduous forests interspersed with some small openings. Suitable bear habitat must provide a diversity of natural foods, water, escape cover, dispersal corridors and den sites. Many plants that provide nutritious foods for bears grow in forest openings, along forest edges and in forest clear-cuts.

In Mississippi, prime black bear habitats include bottomland hardwood forests, swamplands and wooded river drainages. Bears often use the cover of forested river drainages as travel corridors.

Bears need large areas of forested land to roam. A bear's home range can be as small as one square mile or as large as 100 square miles. Home range size is primarily determined by the availability, diversity and abundance of food items. Male black bears have larger home range territories than female bears.

Bears in Mississippi don't use caves for dens; hollowed cavities in large trees or snags are their preferred den sites. Some bears make a ground den within palmetto and switchcane thickets, inside brush piles or underneath logs.

A mother bear usually gives birth to two cubs in January or February. For 18 months, bear cubs are totally dependent upon their mother for protection and guidance. She teaches her cubs where to find food and den sites.

The biggest threats facing black bear survival in Mississippi are habitat loss and habitat fragmentation. Other threats to bears include poaching and being killed when crossing roads.

Bears & People

Once abundant in Mississippi, bear numbers declined dramatically by the early 1900's due to timber harvest, land clearing for agriculture and over hunting. Today, the few bears remaining inhabit forested areas along the Mississippi, Pearl, and Pascagoula rivers. Occasionally, bears travel throughout the state searching for mates, food or unoccupied suitable habitat.

Bears are always looking for easy sources of food. Bears may find food at hunting and fishing camps, rural homesteads, farms or even in towns.

Unknowingly, people provide food for bears when they leave pet food outside, put out corn to attract deer or clean fish and wild game leaving unused animal parts on the ground. Unsecured garbage cans and dumpsters often contain food scraps. Black bears will damage beehives in search of honey. They also feed on agricultural crops such as corn, wheat, oats and sugarcane.

Never intentionally feed a bear. When people provide food for bears, it causes problems for both the bears and people. Bears learn to associate people with food and lose their natural fear of humans. Over time, a human-habituated bear will routinely raid garbage cans, outside pet food bowls, corn feeders, and may even break into cabins and houses. The best way to prevent bear problems is to keep outside areas of your home or cabin free of potential food sources.

If bears are known or suspected to be around, use bear-proof containers and dumpsters. Pet food and seed sacks should be kept in locked containers. No food or garbage should be left outside when hunting, fishing or camping. Do not leave food in deer stands, tents or in parked vehicles, including boats and ATVs. Electric fencing can help prevent bear damage to beehives, dumpsters, orchards and other areas attractive to bears.

Bears and people can live in close proximity without serious problems. Common sense and proper sanitation are the keys to avoiding problems with bears. Don't feed bears and don't litter.

Documented black bear sightings have occurred in numerous counties throughout Mississippi. Most recurrent sightings however, occur in counties that border the Mississippi River. Counties such as Bolivar, Issaquena, Warren and Wilkinson have numerous sightings every year of bears that travel along the bottomland hardwood forests that border the river. Black bears are also known to inhabit counties in extreme southern Mississippi such as Perry, Stone and Harrison. Due to the shy and secretive nature of Black bears, many people are often unaware that bears live in such close proximity.

For more information about black bears, contact: USDA, Wildlife Services, Stoneville Office, P.O. Box 316, Stoneville, MS 38776 or call 662-686-3157. You may also contact: Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, 2148 Riverside Drive, Jackson MS, 39202. Phone (601) 354-7303.