Black Bears in Mississippi, an Update

By Brad Young, Black Bear Biologist, MDWFP and Don Bales, Extension Forestry Associate, MSU-ES

July 7, 2005

Black bear sightings are increasing across Mississippi. Researchers believe this a product of not only an increase in the number of bears in the state, but also of an increase in awareness about bears among citizens and sportsmen throughout Mississippi. Of particular interest are the recent events in Wilkinson County.

In January of this year, a bear that had previously been relocated as part of an ongoing repatriation project in Louisiana, crossed the Mississippi River, took up residence in the Tunica Hills area near Fort Adams, and gave birth to five cubs. The birth of the five cubs represented the first confirmed birth of black bear cubs in Mississippi in some 30 years. Radio telemetry observations taken in May indicate she is still in the area; however, there is no word at this time concerning the fate of the five cubs.

Since that time, another radio-collared female that was part of the same project, has crossed the Mississippi River from Louisiana and has taken up residence in the hills northwest of Woodville. Biologists are hopeful that the female will remain in the area and will have a Mississippi litter of her own this winter. The female bears that have crossed state lines represent a tremendous step forward for black bear restoration in the state.

To this point, the primary limiting factor with regard to a population increase was the lack of female bears found in the state. When a female bear reaches maturity, they generally occupy a territory that is within or adjacent to that of their mother's home range. So, even with populations steadily growing just across our state's borders, Mississippi usually only gets the dispersing males which can travel for hundreds of miles in search of their own territory while the females tend to stay on the other side of the river. For these reasons, any female bear in Mississippi represents a precious commodity to supporters of black bear restoration in the state.

The majority of sightings in the last year have been reported in Adams, Jefferson, Claiborne, and Warren Counties. Several hunting clubs have reported seeing bear tracks on their property and some have even been lucky enough to photograph these shy creatures with the use of trail cameras.

One bear was photographed by a passing motorist as it tried to cross Highway 61 at the Big Black River Bridge in Warren County. The river itself appears to serve as a travel corridor for bears in the area as a bear was killed by a vehicle in the same area in the spring of 2004.

Several bears have been reported in Adams County including one that apparently lost his way and wandered into a residential area for a brief visit.

Numerous sightings from the southern reaches of the state have also come in at a steady rate. Perry, Stone, George and Jackson counties continually have bear sightings in rural areas. Bear tracks have also been documented recently in Kemper and Issaquena counties.

Three bears in the Delta have been captured and radio collared for research purposes by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

Two bears have been captured on the Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge in Washington County. Both are males with one weighing around 275 pounds and the other one a younger bear weighing in at 115 pounds. Visitors to the refuge have reported the sighting of a female and a cub on several occasions in the past year, but biologists have been unable to capture her as of yet.

Another male weighing 235 pounds was also captured on the Twin Oaks WMA in Sharkey County in June of 2004. All of the radio-collared bears throughout the state are monitored by radio-telemetry to obtain locations on a regular basis. This information has provided a great deal of information to biologists and the general public about bear movements and habitat usages in Mississippi. Trapping efforts are continuing in the hopes that several bears will be collared throughout the state so that we can learn more about the habits of bears in different regions and habitat types.

The Bear Education and Restoration Group, or BEAR, is working diligently to inform the public about black bears in Mississippi. Recent studies have concluded that Mississippi has large sections of excellent bear habitat, and that the public is supportive of efforts to protect and enhance the current population.

At one time, it appeared that bears would have to be relocated into the state from other areas, but recent developments may make that unnecessary.

With an increase in the number of bears in the state there will have to be an increase in public responsibility in areas where bears are present. Black bears are shy, secretive animals that avoid human interaction whenever possible. They are not aggressive and receive most of their negative stereotypes from association with Grizzly bears.

Like raccoons and many other animals however, black bears will take an easy meal when possible. It is important to never intentionally feed a bear as this causes the bear to associate people with food. Using common sense in areas where bears are present will usually prevent any problems.

Hunters should also become aware that black bears are protected and should not be harmed. Feral hogs are becoming more and more prevalent throughout the state as a game species and as a general nuisance. It is imperative that hunters and landowners look closely before they pull the trigger as black bears can often resemble hogs at farther distances, especially at low light. It is illegal to kill a Black Bear in Mississippi punishable by fines up to $100,000 and 1 year in jail.

Black bears were once common throughout Mississippi and attracted some of America's most famous sportsmen to our state in the hopes of taking one of these elusive creatures. Sadly, due to over hunting and loss of habitat, the Mississippi black bear almost vanished from our forests.

Today, Mississippians have been given the opportunity to save a symbol of our state's once wild lands. By working together and learning all that we can about the Mississippi black bear, we have a chance to right what was almost an irreversible wrong and save an animal that has a rightful place in our state's natural heritage.

To learn more about black bears in Mississippi please refer to an earlier Black Bears in Mississippi article. You may also contact: Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, 2148 Riverside Drive, Jackson MS, 39202. Phone (601) 354-7303.