TPWD
Nov. 27, 2012

Black bear activity on the upswing in the Hill Country and South Texas

AUSTIN — Black bear activity in the Hill Country and South Texas along the Rio Grande from Del Rio to below Laredo is increasing, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists.

Though historically it has been very rare for bears to be sighted south or east of Val Verde County, so far in 2012 there have been a dozen such sightings.

“This is likely a result of a growing number of bears in Mexico dispersing and searching for food after severe droughts and wildfires,” says TPWD biologist Jonah Evans of Alpine, the department’s bear coordinator. “Whether these sightings signify a permanent recolonization of Central and South Texas remains to be seen.”

While black bears are native to all of Texas, in the early 1900’s, heavy hunting and trapping completely eliminated them from the state. Currently, the only established breeding populations are in the Big Bend area of West Texas.

“Black bears are generally not a risk to humans,” Evans says. “But they can become a nuisance if they gain a taste for human food, pet food, or trash. We’ve recently received several reports of bears tipping over and damaging deer feeders and a few raiding trash cans along the border.”

Evans says the department’s goal is for people and bears to coexist peacefully.

“By eliminating food rewards, we eliminate most of the problems,” he says. “Many communities in bear country have effectively adapted to live with bears, but it takes everyone working together and doing their part.”

The most effective strategy is for residents along the border to secure their trash, bird feeders, and pet food, so bears don’t become habituated to easy meals, Evans notes.

“This cannot be overstated,” he continues. “The saying ’A fed bear is a dead bear’ is absolutely true. If a bear becomes habituated and food-conditioned, there is little we can do to save it. It will likely have to be destroyed.”

TPWD is asking for people to report all bear sightings. If a bear is causing a nuisance, TPWD will work with residents to secure attractants and may attempt to haze the bear. In extreme situations, the bear may be relocated. Biologists are also available to give talks and educational programs on living with bears. Since black bears are a threatened species in Texas, they cannot be legally hunted or harmed.

If you see a bear, please report it to Jonah Evans at (432) 837-2051 x228.

Bear activity reported so far this year includes:
•Maverick County — Jan. 26 — Sighting
•Starr County — July 30 — Relocated
•Kimble County — Aug. 6 — Sighting
•Menard County — Aug. 8 — Sighting
•Schleicher County — Aug. 8 — Sighting
•Sutton County Aug. 12 — Sighting
•Webb County — Aug. 27 — Killed on road by vehicle
•Uvalde County Aug. 31 — Sighting
•Kinney County Sept. 25 — Sighting
•Maverick County — Oct. 14 — Relocated
•Val Verde County — Nov. 3 — Sighting
•Edwards County — Nov. 5 — Sighting

Hopefully the bears will make a return and hopefully the liberals will leave them alone and the morons won't feed them.

http://www.texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/3496221/2

Yeah, I believe they're here. My uncle told me after my first hunt this year in San Angelo about a bear sighting down the road Mertzon. I am glad they are coming back and hope they stick around for a while.

This is the most exciting news I have gotten in a long time. Finally there will be an element of wild in the Texas woods! I hope they know how to stay hidden. If they do come out, I hope they eat a PETA loving liberal yuppy on his or her way to protest hydraulic fracturing.

another thing that scares me at night in the dark

All the guys (and gals) investing their time and money to hunt deer in south and central TX are going to LOVE this.

My cousin got some game camera shots of a bear or bears, back in eastern Louisiana last season. The fine for shooting one is so big that all our hunting buddies say that if you're attacked by a bear, shoot yourself. It works out better that way.

That would be really cool to go on a legal Texas bear hunt before I get too old to do it.

my buddy has a lease in Paris on a tree farm and has a two pictures of a bear eating at one of his feeders

WELL... Don't hold your breath, guys, on a solid established population of bears throughout texas. I have lived amonst them at my cabin in Ontario, Canada, and they are crazy animals. A boar (male) will have a home area of a hundred sguare miles that he frequents and travels. A sow(female) lives in a smaller 20 sq. miles (depending on food sources & available foods) which it will share with its' female cubs. Her male cubs are chased off totally from her area to find a home of their own. These young males are usually the "wandering bears" people see in odd areas. The female becomes breeding age at 5 years, when it may start bearing cubs (usually twins) every other year. So they multiply fairly slowly, after you factor in the mortality rate of cubs. So if you see one in texas, consider it lucky!

doesn't even count one the guy shot on the YO Ranch a few months back

Would be cool to see one and I am all for them being around for the sake of wildlife diversity...but from the other perspective...I can think of a long list of negative impacts having them around will bring about as well

I like the idea of the bears "coming back" ,but I'm not kidding myself, what hunter will let a new "trophy" animal walk like a bear?? not many I would guess. It is a "romantic" thought though, I would add Elk back to that list also, even though they are havoc on fences and Texas has a few of those!!

Yep, I watched a video a TPWD biologist made of a FEMALE black bear in Red River county. As cool as the idea is, I know a lot of the hardcore deer hunters in SE Oklahoma and Arkansas are tired of them.

IMO, when they starting breeding and living (if they aren't already) in the timber of Northern Red River County they are going to get thick in this area.

so when do we start getting bear tags

I'll print some up....$100 a piece!!!! all you want no limit

Going to have to keep an eye out in Real County, these sightings are quite close to where we hunt.

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You think at least fifteen years for bear tags to be issued in Texas?

Something else for the guys and gals that get the heebie geebies walking to their stands in the dark. Humm.

Wait till the first time a jaguar is spotted on a trail-cam in Texas.

there is Not a Bear Proof feeder made....and you will not be able to keep them out of your protein ....i know we have them here in Arizona ....big problem trying to build your deer herd with bears ......bubbba

I wouldn't worry nearly as much about bears when walking thru the woods at night as I would cougars, but then maybe that's just my ignorance of either talking.

I'd worry a hell of a lot more about being killed in a wreck in your truck on the way to the ranch than either of the above critters getting you while walking in the woods at night.....just saying.

The cougars that hang out at the bars at night on opening weekend will sure get you!