Mississippi’s Black Bear Population Rebounds After Decades of Absence

Black bears were absent from Mississippi for more than three decades. From the early 1970s to 2005, there were no recorded bear births in the state, according to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks.

The species’ comeback began in 2005 when a radio-collared female from Louisiana crossed into Wilkinson County and gave birth to five cubs. The litter marked the first recorded bear reproduction in Mississippi since the early 1970s, said department officials.

Most female bears do not have their first cubs until ages 3 to 5, and they experience delayed implantation, which allows them to store fat during the fall to prepare for denning and raising cubs. Typically, bears have litters of one to three cubs, making the five cubs from that first litter especially rare, officials noted.

The event is considered a milestone in the recovery of black bears in Mississippi. The department encourages the public to follow along with Bear Week and stay informed about the species’ resurgence in the state.

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