Florida Black Bear Research Paper

Today, Louisiana has made extraordinary rescues with species that were once considered threatened or endangered. Due to safe planning and the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service projected to remove the Louisiana Black Bear from the list of threatened species. In May 2015, approximately 350 black bears to 600 black bears existed in Northern Louisiana in which $900,000 was invested to restore its population. Severe habitat loss of the black bear is what initially led to the decline in the population. In 1992, the Louisiana Black Bear was placed on the list of endangered and threatened species and in May 2015, they were officially removed (Wildlife Division - Texas Parks and Wildlife Department,

Bear hunting is an extremely dangerous activity for one to partake in. There are many precautions one must take in order to successfully kill a bear. Although bears are typically calm creatures they can become extremely aggressive and dangerous if threatened. Therefore, one must be aware of their surroundings at all times and ready for any encounter. Normally bears are baited using some kind of container cut open with fruit and other strong smelling foods to draw the bears in. Though dangerous bear hunting does also provide a considerable amount of food for a family. Those you hunt typically do so in order to obtain the meat from the animal. A typical black bear weighs about 240 pounds on average. Though not all of that weight is eatable much of it

The Grizzly bears population has grown from about 200 in 1975 to approximately 600-1200 in the 18 million acers of the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. (Yellowstone)

The Spirit Bear, or actually called the Kermode bear, lives in the Great Bear Rainforest in the Northwest area of the Canadian province British Columbia. Half way up the coast is where they live. “Scientifically, the white ones, along with their closest black relatives, belong to a subspecies of black bear.”(Smithsonian) The big white bear is probably around 300 lbs. It is cold where they live, and their fur definitely helps them keep warm. They hunt for things like salmon, and just eats it up. Right now, the some estimates say there are only around 100 of the specie left. They are very rare and definitely one of the rarest type of

Currently, most Louisiana black bears live in St. Mary and Iberia in south Louisiana, Tensas, and West Carroll Parishes in northeast Louisiana and Pointe Coupee in central Louisiana.(figure 4) However, male bears often wander long distances, so the sighting of Louisiana black bears are now common all over Louisiana, and west and southern Mississippi.

If a bear hears you coming, then it will likely leave since it does not want to have an encounter with you just as much as you don't want to surprise a bear. It is especially important to make noise when you come to a part of the trail where you can not see ahead of you, such as going around a bend in the trail or up or down a hill. Other times to be extra aware are when approaching streams, and in dense vegetation. Never Feed Bears - This only puts you in a potentially dangerous situation and could make the bear more dangerous by getting it used to approaching people for food.

The black bear, ursus americanus, roams in different places in America including Texas. Its North America the black bears habitat ranges from Mexico all the way to Canada. In the state of Texas, the black bear is under threatened status, it also has the same status under the United States (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department). According to the Texas Parks Wildlife Department (2016) in the state of Texas they are usually found in the Western area in the Trans Pecos ecoregion. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (2016) has reported that there have been recent sightings of the Louisiana Black Bear in the Eastern part of Texas, where they used to have a strong population. This comes as surprising since the Louisiana Black Bear has an endangered status in the United States, as well as in the state of Texas. Even though the black bear species population in Texas is not as strong as it used to be in the past, many efforts are being done to recolonize the black bear in the South Western region of Texas by, studying their habitat as well as their eating habits, checking the DNA of the bears already in the area to see their genetic structures, regulating protection policies for black bears, and educating the people on the species.

It becomes competitive amongst them for food and being so close to neighborhoods and business it is convenient for them to use that as a resource. Hence the events in which bears come into backyards or parking lots .From garbage cans, pet food, barbeque grills and so on, bears become consistent in invading properties because they become have “food conditioned” (Fwc). More frequent invasions result into more conflicts, some resulting in the death of pets. Even more so the event of a bear coming into residential area can become even more lethal .Leah Reed who was walking her dog was attacked from behind from a Black bear; she suffered injuries to her neck, head, and arms. Luckily her dog was able to startle the bear and gave Leah time to escape; she ended up having to get twelve stitches for the gash on her head (ABC). Attacks like this could result in deaths if there is no way out and shouldn’t be happening in neighborhoods. The increase in attacks is why the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation decided to lift the ban on hunting bears.

The question I chose for my inquiry research project was “How will change in precipitation affect black bears and brown bears in British Columbia?”. I think that in 1000 years bears will still be able to survive.

Despite the stereotype of black bears being a threat to one’s safety, Animal-zone explains how black bears are actually very gentle, joyful animals that have a predictable behavior. Black bears live all around the world. Black bears, like all animals, have unique characteristics, behave differently as male or female, exhibit special adaptations and live in several types of habitats. Black bears have various characteristics to help them flourish in the wild.

This means that they eat nuts, berries, fruits, leaves, and roots and other animals from rodents to moose. For being 800 pounds and also being 5 to 8 feet they are fast animals running up to 30 miles and hour or sometimes 35 miles per hour. Grizzly bears once lived in much of Western North America and even the Great plains. When the europeans settled they killed many of these bears from both of these areas. Today the Grizzly bear population in the U.S. are safe because they are protected by law.

Another observation done by Bass is that the projected estimate of a population growth of 132 to 1,800 is just that an estimation. As Bass stated “ bears do not sit down for a census”(Bass 2). If grizzly bears are listed there is a chance that hunters will accidently over hunt bears once again. If bears bears are delisted it will not be because the bears will be ready it will be because hunters have been persistently asking for the chance to hunt. If bears are delisted it can be years before they can be relisted and by then it may be far too late.

Another observation made by Bass is that the projected estimate of a population growth of 132 to 1,800 is just that an estimation. As Bass stated “ bears do not sit down for a census”(Bass 2). If grizzly bears are listed there is a chance that hunters will accidently over hunt bears once again. If bears are delisted it will not be because the bears will be ready it will be because hunters have been persistently asking for the chance to hunt. If bears are delisted it can be years before they can be relisted and by then it may be far too late.

According to the FWC, hunting supports keeping population size in check, fewer bears being pushed into neighborhoods and increasing wariness and fear of humans. Bears were removed from Florida’s threatened species list in 2012. About 300 bears are expected to be killed by an unlimited number of permitted hunters. Florida has an estimated 3,150 black bears in four regions — the eastern Panhandle, Northeast Florida, east-central Florida and South Florida — where the hunts would be conducted, according to the Panama City New Herald. The numbers are based on 2002 estimates for the eastern Panhandle and South Florida, and a 2014 count in the Northeast Florida and east-central Florida regions.

the date, county, and exact location. After this is done, the officer will be able to if it is the same bear when another black bear is caught and has a tag. The very last resort in getting rid of a black bear is shooting it. If this is the case, a conservation officer will have to be the one to kill the black bear. If any damage is done the person should check and see if the damage is covered by the bear damage compensation. Not all damage is covered. Sometimes no damage at all is covered (Houchins 2). Most problems with black bears are caused by human error. If a person gets rid of their trash and edible products properly, they will most likely not have a problem with black bears (WV DNR).