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Black bears bouncing back in Mississippi
Published Sunday, July 6, 2008
Bear Biologist Brad Young estimates Mississippi currently is home to around 100 bears. According to a survey taken around 1927, there were only 12 female bears in Mississippi at that time.
NATCHEZ — Apparently Yogi has some relatives in southeast Mississippi.
Last month, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks caught a 310 pound male Louisiana black bear in a live trap near Rodney.
“The bear had actually gotten into a fenced-in 30 acre pen,” Bear Biologist Brad Young said. “The pen had electric wire around the top and the bear got zapped and lunged inside.
“It was afraid to leave because it didn’t want to get zapped again.”
In order to microchip, analyze and tag the bear, the MDWFP caught the bear using a culvert trap — a pipe on a trailer with bait inside.
Since it’s capture and release in Jefferson County, the bear was located last Thursday in around Port Gibson, 20 miles north of where it had been released.
Twenty miles may seem like a long distance to travel, but Young said it’s not uncommon, considering it’s breeding season.
“I’m sure he’s just looking for a mate,” he said.
According to Young, bears are not uncommon to Mississippi, although there were more a decade ago.
“Once upon a time, black bears were very common in Mississippi,” Young said. “Over time, because of over-hunting, and loss of habitat, they’ve become endangered.”
However, Young said the bear population in Mississippi was on the rise.
“In Mississippi, they’re actually increasing slowly,” he said. “The last five years we’ve documented the birth of bear cubs.
“It’s the first time we’ve seen females in Mississippi.”
Young said at around 1927, it was estimated there were only a dozen females in the Magnolia State.
This is in part because of dispersing males, and a matter of bear ecology.
“When a bear has a male and female cub, the male can disperse for hundreds of miles in any direction,” Young said. “It’s a way nature prevents inner-breeding.
“Females stay closer to home.”
Lately, in part because Louisiana and Arkansas are trying to increase their bear populations, “Some of those female bears have jumped ship and come into Mississippi,” Young said.
Bears typically stay within a 40-50 square-mile range in Mississippi.
Young estimates Mississippi is currently home to around 100 bears.
Unlike in the movies and on television, Young said bear attacks are so uncommon, they have yet to hear of a bear attack in Mississippi.
This is in part because of bears innate shyness, which is why the forests of Mississippi are a perfect habitat for them.
“It’s a very good habitat, very steep,” Young said.
“The biggest perk is places for them to hide and stay away from people.
“They’re very shy.”
In Mississippi there are two types of bears, Louisiana black bears, and American black bears.
While Louisiana black bears roam primarily southern Mississippi, Louisiana and East Texas, American black bears call northern Mississippi home.
“You can’t tell them apart just by looking at them,” Young said.
On average, Louisiana black bears live up to 25 years. Females average 150-200 pounds, while males average 200-250 pounds. Young said the male caught in Jefferson County was the second largest he’s ever seen.
Ninety percent of what bears eat is some form of plant matter — grasses, berries, acorns, leaves.
“They’re not active predators in the sense they don’t stalk prey,” Young said.
Also somewhat of a misnomer about bears, they don’t typically fish.
“Not so much,” Young said.
“They might eat a fish if it’s already dead. Basically anything that doesn’t run away.”
Young said people get black bears and grizzly bears confused, and that, along with watching television and movies, is where misconceptions about black bears come from.
If a bear wanders onto your property, or you have a bear sighting, you can call the MDWFP at 601-432-2242. For more information on black bears in Mississippi, you can visit mdwfp.com/bear.
Comments
Posted by iconoclast (anonymous) on July 5, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is good to see the Black Bear population making a comeback. If we can protect their habitat and keep the hunters away from them, which is what decimated the state's bear population in the first place, these magnificent animals can thrive in Mississippi again.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on July 5, 2008 at 10:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Iconoclast, do you hunt or fish?
Because of hunter's license fees, etc we have conservation programs to protect and help the bears. Hunters are Mississippi's best conservationists.
Yes we have outlaw hunters, but most hunters would never kill a bear around here, if anyone kills a bear I hope they are caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
I hope I see one in the woods this season
Way back in the 20's people didn't understand population control, habitat, etc.
Posted by grrbrts (anonymous) on July 5, 2008 at 10:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have reported four sightings (bear tracks-only) to date. The first three were sighted in separate creek beds, and the fourth was along a trail (atop a ridge). All four were reported to Mr. Brad Young. The first two sightings were in October of 2005, the third was in April of 2008, and the fourth was in June of 2008. The first three were located in Jefferson County, MS and the fourth in Adams County, MS. I have no idea what type of bear, out of two, they belong to. Nor do I know the gender, of the same. The last two sightings were recorded with the use of a GPS Unit and Digital Camera. The fourth sighting was located on the west end of Morning Glory Road, and very near Sedgefield Road. The last two sightings were 2.746 miles apart, in a bee-line (not including the elevations) direction.
Posted by Username (anonymous) on July 5, 2008 at 11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I saw a bear at duncan park in the 80's when it had only 9 holes. I took some pics of some fresh bear tracks in adams county back in the spring and as this story pretty much says... People watch way to much TV and it alters the mind with misconceptions.
Posted by iconoclast (anonymous) on July 5, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just last year I heard hunters bragging about shooting a "honey-bear", a term they use because these bears are small in size. These hicks around here will shoot at anything. I repeat: Keep the hunters away from them. Bears reproduce slow enough as it is without this small population having to contend with guns.
Posted by generoberts (anonymous) on July 5, 2008 at 12:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I know where two honey bears are right now in Franklin county. But I wouldn't tell a soul because I know how people are. They have to plunder with things. The bears would be gone by tomorrow. It's a shame that things have to be kept secret to survive. Last year I told of some baby foxes I knew about and knew thier location....sure a hell in no-time they were gone......Four wheeler tracks everywhere!!!
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on July 5, 2008 at 1:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
On the heels of telling about my experience of seeing a black bear several years ago in Concordia Parish, just a couple of weeks ago, here comes this story. generoberts, I can imagine how sad and 'guilty' you must feel, but don't, it's not your fault we have such ignorant and stupid people living amongst us. It's great they are making a come back. We need the forest creatures as well as we need the humans around us. And to all the others, thanks for taking the time and effort to record your sightings.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on July 5, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
For the last 30 years the Mississippi wildlife experts have told us that our state had a population of about 50 bears. If we now have 100, things seems to be improving. All of our surrounding states have had healthy populations of bears for years while our numbers tended to remain low. And I too have placed the blame on the outlaw hunters. And the blame can also be spread to those that have knowledge of the outlaws but do not report them. iconoclast, please do your civic duty.
Posted by iconoclast (anonymous) on July 5, 2008 at 1:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OldGrandDad: If I knew who those degenerates were I would certainly turn them in. I had stopped at a country store for some coffee when they came in bragging.
genroberts: I also saw a black bear in Franklin County not long ago. You are right, it's not wise to say exactly where.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on July 5, 2008 at 4:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Some people will shoot anything. Someone once brought a dead bird to me to identify and said they had never seen anything like it and wanted to have it mounted. It was a fairly rare Roseate Spoonbill. I asked why in the world did he shoot it. His reply? Because he didn't know what it was! And yes I reported it, but I know nothing was done about it. He didn't have it mounted either. Bears beware of idiots like this. Come to my house so I can take pictures!
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on July 5, 2008 at 11:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hear tell that bears have a very large range. To see one in a particular area is no guarantee that they will be there for someone else to see tomorrow or next week. Some of the bears in Jefferson County are very likely the same bears in Adams County too. I've seen bears in New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Alberta. Sadly, I've never seen one in Mississippi. People that shoot them illegally are stealing something from you, me and our grandchildren.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on July 6, 2008 at 12:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Freedom42 i hope if i see a bear i think of my camera lol...Wouldn't that be a sight :)....I sit on my porch in the fall and watch the deer eat the pears off the trees as well as the persimons(sp) you know those sour things lol...Took alot of pics of them..
Last year i had my mom hear and we were on the porch a 10point walked up to the edge and looked at us like what are y'all doing lol...Just turned and walked away...
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