We have all heard stories of black bear sightings in Mississippi. Many years ago, there was a lot of excitement in Greenville when a black bear made its way through a rural neighborhood — even stopping to play on a tire swing. Not long after that, a black bear was sighted on a golf course in the nearby town of Leland.
The bear in Greenville was radio-collar fitted and as sightings increased, so did the interest in its treks around the area. It was determined that the bear traveled approximately 215 miles in and around our state.
The word “bear” is mostly associated with the aggressive grizzlies that occur in the Western United States and Canada. The fact is that black bears are very shy and tend to avoid human interaction. Though they have teeth big enough to tear through meat, black bears prefer plant materials or insects rather than other animals.
These bears are also easy to please when it comes to bedding. They can be found sleeping in hollow cypress trees some 60 to 100 feet above ground but can also find comfort under a bush.
Something else that may come as a surprise is that black bears do not undergo a true hibernation, especially in the Deep South. Hibernation is an adaptation to a reduction of food. Therefore, their sleep-state is more akin to lethargy. During this time their body temperature drops, and their heart rate slows, but they can still be awakened. So, please, if you come upon a sleeping bear, let it sleep!
Bears breed in the summer. But, because of delayed implantation, the egg doesn’t become attached to the uterus until around November. Then, after a short gestation period, one to five cubs are born while the mother hibernates through January and February. The cubs will then stay with their mother for more than a year.
Maturity is usually reached around 4 years of age. Although females can breed as early as 2 years of age, reproductive maturity depends on nutrition. Mississippi bears are usually 4 to 5 years of age when mating occurs, and only breed every two to three years.
There are several programs that aid private landowners in restoring habitat for the black bear.
The Wetland Reserve Easement and the bottomland hardwood restoration practices of the Conservation Reserve Program specifically provide future habitat for the Louisiana black bear and the American black bear on eligible agricultural lands.
With an increase in the number of bears in the state comes greater public responsibility in areas where bears are present. While black bears are not naturally aggressive, people should never attempt to feed them to avoid the bear’s association of food with people. Also, hunters should be aware that black bears are protected and should not be harmed in any way.
By working together and learning all that we can about black bears, we can save this animal that is a legendary part of our state’s history.
James L. Cummins is executive director of Wildlife Mississippi, a nonprofit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi. The website is www.wildlifemiss.org.
