Through the years, I have seen an abundance of “wild” creatures while inspecting crops in remote areas. Examples include whitetail does giving birth to fawns, hen turkeys teaching her poults to forage for insects, bald eagles catching fish, just to name a few. One never knows what you may encounter when you spend as many hours outdoors as I do. However, there was a first this year that was brought to my attention that I had never seen before.
A producer in the Holly Bluff area sent a video of a creature crossing the road and traveling down the same cotton row that we frequent weekly. It emerged from the banks of the Sunflower River and bounded across the field for Delta National Forest. Several weeks later, one of our growers was looking at the boll load on his cotton and was “greeted” by a visitor of the same species just yards from where he was standing. I’m not sure who was more surprised, the farmer or the creature. Though rare, these animals are becoming more abundant, and sightings are becoming increasingly common.
The American black bear, ursus americanus, was quite plentiful in Mississippi in the 1800s. Of course, as in the case of other species, loss of habitat and market hunting reduced the black bear’s numbers significantly. In fact, the black bear numbers in 1932 were estimated at only 12 plus animals in the entire state. In recent years, this species has begun to make a comeback, with credit to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) and our biologists within the department.
Last week I had the opportunity to sit down with Anthony Ballard, a wildlife biologist with MDWFP, and discuss this novel species. Anthony received his undergraduate degree in wildlife biology from Mississippi State University, and his graduate degree from the University of Louisiana, Monroe. He has been with the department since 2015 with significant duties focused on black bear management. Currently, Anthony estimates the Mississippi bear population around 500 with most of them located in the southwest portion of the state.
He is heavily involved with live trapping of these animals, acquiring data like weights, DNA samples, inserting tracking chips, and ear tags on older bears. I was astounded to learn that his trapping success is around 70-80%, which is phenomenal. The traps he uses are large, walk in box cages that he can monitor from his phone and computer, and he can trigger the door when a bear enters the trap. After the data is recorded, the bears are released, and he can monitor movement, and learn more about their range, reproduction success, habits, and much more.
Interestingly, he noted that Arkansas and Louisiana have had a black bear management program since the 1950s and have even had restocking programs to enhance populations. Many of the bears these states restocked came from Minnesota and Canada. Part of the success Arkansas and Louisiana have had in maintaining and growing bear populations are through the protection of old growth forests and den trees. An example of a den tree is a large, hollowed cavity in a remote area of a swamp not prone to excessive flooding. Breeding season for black bears can be extended from May through September, and when the female (sow) conceives, she will then give birth in her den to protect and nurture her cubs. The newborn cubs weigh eight-10 ounces and are around nine inches in length. Born blind and toothless, they are totally dependent on mother bear for protection and nutrition.
For the next 18 months, the cubs will remain with their mother, learning the ways of the world and maturing. Also, at around 18 months, the male cubs will leave the “nest” to find their own future. Mama bear will ensure the male cub leaves so the genetic diversity will remain intact and interbreeding does not occur. At this time, these young males are highly mobile and may travel 100 miles or more from their original home. This, in part, may be one of the reasons bear sightings occur more often as they find new home ranges.
I asked Anthony about the increased possibility of bear/human interactions as populations increase. He said, “bears are omnivorous and may be attracted to easy food sources like garbage cans, deer feeders, and even backyard bird feeders.” As bears travel, they are likely to frequent neighborhoods leading to human contact. You may wonder about bear attacks, especially with a mother bear with cubs. There is not a significant risk or danger. Most of the time, the female bear will give warning “woof” to her cubs to run for safety or climb a tree to avoid danger. In other words, they may be as scared of us as we are of them. To put it in perspective, Anthony mentioned you are more likely to be attacked by a dog or struck by lightning than to encounter a bear attack.
I asked if bear sightings would be of any interest to the wildlife department. We already know of the increase in bear sightings in the southwest portion of the state as I previously mentioned, however if someone saw a bear on the eastern part of the state, they would like to know about it due to the limited population in this area.
Research on bears is tedious work and time consuming, not to mention expensive. However, this research is vital so we can learn more about this species that is making a remarkable comeback from a century ago. You can play a key role in enhancing this research if you are inclined to do so. By offering donations through the MDWFP Foundation, you can help with future research that is beneficial for all wildlife species. Keep in mind also, that while this tax-deductible donation impacts current conservation efforts and enhancement of our fish and wildlife resources, it is also an investment for the benefit of future generations so that they too will have the opportunity to enjoy our important Mississippi outdoor heritage.
My first encounter with a black bear was not in Mississippi. I was elk hunting in New Mexico on the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation. In an area of dense brush, there was a bull bugling with all his might while tending his harem. My guide and I were easing through the brush hoping to catch a glimpse of this monarch. While slipping into this bull’s haunt, my guide noticed bear “scat” all along the trail we were on. Immediately, he wanted to call off the hunt because he was scared to death of running into the bear. He kept repeating, “No Goosh, No Goosh.” I told him I had something for that bear if we had a problem. We stayed on the track; however he allowed me to go first and lead the way. How unselfish was he? Now that I think back, I wonder if it was a black bear? It could have been a grizzly. Either way, it worked out because we didn’t see the bull elk or the bear.
On your trips through Holly Bluff, keep an eye out for one of the bears that inhabit the woodlands in the delta. You never know when one will stand up in the middle of a defoliated cotton field. If you do see one, I would like to hear about it because they are utterly amazing creatures. Thank you, Anthony, for your time last week. I really appreciate your knowledge and for the opportunity to share this with others.
Until next time enjoy our woods and waters and remember, let’s leave it better than we found it.
jeff.north@northag.net
