A black bear sighting in the Lone Star State.
East Texas has confirmed sightings of black bears in Cherokee, Anderson, Panola, and Rusk Counties, which is rare for the state of Texas. Black bears have a presence in 40 of the 50 states in the United States of America, and while back bears are native to Texas, they haven’t had a breeding population for quite a number of years. The largest black bear population is found in Alaska, with approximately 100,000 black bears residing there. Other states with high populations include Maine, California, states in the Pacific Northwest and Wisconsin.
After there were a few citizens reported sightings, earlier this week, the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department put out the following statement confirming the sightings and that black bears were residing in this region again.
“Biologists with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) have confirmed several sightings of a black bear in Cherokee, Anderson, Panola, and Rusk Counties.
Black bears are native to Texas and part of the state’s natural heritage and ecosystem. They are designated as a threatened species in Texas, so it is illegal to kill, injure, take, possess, capture, or transport a black bear. Please note there are severe penalties for killing a black bear in East Texas. These penalties can include a combination of fines and jail time, including civil restitution penalties exceeding $12,000.
There are no resident populations of black bears in East Texas, and TPWD has not and does not stock bears in East Texas. However, all of our neighboring states have established breeding populations of bears. This time of year, young bears are leaving their mothers and may end up in unusual places.”
Most likely these young males will return to the states they came from when the breeding season starts next year.
This is very exciting news for Texas, but given that this is a large hunting region, the TTHA advises deer hunters to switch from using deer corn in piles or open feeders to soybeans to reduce bear activity.
“Black bears are guided by an excellent sense of smell, and their behavior is driven largely by appetite. Bears are not normally aggressive and should be left alone. If you see a bear, remain calm, stay far away, do not run, and never attempt to feed or restrain it. Bears will typically move on if they are given space and if nearby attractants are secured, such as garbage, pet food, bird feeders, and deer feeders.”
If you’re out and about in East Texas, don’t be surprised if you stumble upon a black bear.
Give them their space, and they will give you yours.
