With some regularity coastal and mountain bears fall victim to highway collisions, particularly as people build more roads and houses in their habitat. Feeding bears is illegal in South Carolina, and violations are punishable by up to a $500 fine or 30 days in jail. Adult grizzly bears are normally solitary except when breeding or when females have dependent young, but they are not territorial and home ranges of adult bears frequently overlap. The South Carolina coast has seen a major uptick in black bear sightings recently and experts at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) are asking residents to beware as bears are on the move in the spring time. With its rugged forests and unspoiled tracts of land, its natural that Alaska would be home to many grizzlies. The idea is to make yourself known to the bear so that you dont surprise him. Its unclear exactly how many Black Bears live in Maryland today, but some sources estimate more than 2,000 bears. Now there are over 4,000 bears in the state and growing. There are believed to be 2,000 or more bears in Oklahoma today. Black bear weight varies enormously depending on age, sex and time of year - black bears can be 30% heavier in autumn than they are in spring. You will receive your first email soon. A lock () or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 2023 www.greenvilleonline.com. The majority of the population in the state is in Eastern and Southeastern Kentucky, along the Southern Appalachian Mountains bordering West Virginia and Virginia. Grizzly bears are a threatened species in Montana: Despite their large size and formidable reputation, grizzly bears are a threatened species in Montana, and their populations have been in decline for many years due to habitat loss and other factors. This park in Wellford, SC is home to dozens of 'celebrity zooperstars'. Hunting is used as a means to help control the bear population. The black bear faces dangers from numerous predators. Mandy Matneyis the news director at FITSNews. The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish estimates that there are approximately 5,000-6,000 Black Bears living in all 14.6 million forested acres of New Mexico. Two cases were reported in recent years of people feeding bears from their back porches. You want to appear dominant and frighten the bear. As tourism increases, Klosowski says visitors should enjoy the state but remember to keep some distance between you and the wildlife. Black Bears are highly intelligent mammals that have shown problem solving skills. Cubs are born in January or February in South Carolina and stay with their mothers until theyre about 18 months old. klosowski warns that Were seeing specifically an increase in people visiting our state parks, we have Sturgis rally coming up so were really going to start seeing a lot of people, even more in the state of South Dakota and as long as people stay very cognizant in giving some wildlife some space, they can stay very safe.. Unlike brown or black bears, grizzlies tend to inhabit grassy meadows, open hillsides, and places with other food sources like clover and berries; none of these areas exists in South Carolina. It is a large bear that is native to North America. What should you do if you see a bear? Since 2001 South Dakota has seen an increase in bear sightings. In South Carolina, there are two resident populations of black bears, one in the mountains and upper piedmont and one in the coastal plain. webmaster@dnr.sc.gov, http://www.enr.gov.nt.ca/_live/pages/wpPages/Safety_in_Grizzly_and_Black_Bear, Respect all bears - they can be dangerous, Never approach a bear for any reason. May 2010: A bear was euthanized after biting a tourist in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The bear population is definitely increasing and they start wandering, just looking for places to go and things to eat.. Black bears can be found as far south as central Mexico and as far north as northern Alaska and most of Canada. WildlifeInformer.com is your #1 source for free information about all types of wildlife and exotic pets. Consider carrying a chemical repellent, commonly referred to as "pepper spray." Your email address will not be published. In 2002, experts began taking a closer look at the black bears in Mississippi and at that time there were believed to be less than 50 bears in the state. The historic habitat of black bears is northern Oconee, Pickens and Greenville counties, but they have been expanding out of that historic range for years, Wactor said. "A wild bear is very wary of man and usually no threat at all, but a bear that has been fed loses that natural fear. The claws on the front feet of adults are about 4 inches long and slightly curved. Black bear are the most timid and least dangerous of the bears found in North America. An Increase In Black Bear Sightings Along The Coast Leads Experts To Believe They Are Moving Out Of Natural Habitats In South Carolina For those living in the Upstate of South Carolina, bear sightings are nothing unusual. They start breading around age 3 in the months of June and July in South Carolina. Aside from the Louisiana Bear, both the Mexican Black Bear (Ursus americanus eremicus) and the New Mexico Black Bear (subspecies U. a. amblyceps) are found in western Texas in low numbers and are also on the state endangered species list. This means that although her body can hold onto multiple sets of sperm at once, it wont begin the process of producing cubs until later on in the year. Idaho classes grizzlies as a threatened species. The new trash bins are at all the picnic areas and two campgrounds. Increasing development is rapidly diminishing the bears habitat, Kayla Brantley, coastal bear biologist at SCDNR, said. According to the Ohio Wildlife Center, the most likely areas to see Black Bears in Ohio today are in Northeast Ohio (Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake, Trumbull, and Tuscarawas counties) and Southeast Ohio (Washington, Athens, Hocking, and Vinton counties). Black Bears in West Virginia were once concentrated to the National Forests of Eastern West Virginia, such as Monongahela National Forest, but have since spread throughout the state and have a population of 8,000 or more. Its not just the development thats causing an increase of sightings, Brantley said. And lastly, if you're a bee keeper, put up a bear-proof fence around those hives. However, the guard hairs dont remain intact for long because most of them are shed over time something that leads to even darker fur in the mature animals found in South Carolina. "If you feed a bear, either on purpose or accidentally, then they come to associate man with food, and that's not good," Still said. The facial profile is concave and there is a noticeable hump above the shoulders. A male's territory may have . Bears have to eat to survive, and when we're in such proximity, conflicts are bound to arise. Do Foxes Purr? South Carolina officially legalized bear hunting in 1970. Use bear spray (if you have any) if it approaches too close. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. All rights reserved. Access to the river estuary and the . South Carolina has a brief black bear hunting season open only during October in its mountain counties - Greenville, Oconee and Pickens. At one point their population was on a steep decline in many areas due to hunting and loss of habitat, but now they are making a comeback and populations are increasing thanks to new laws, healthier forests, and stricter regulations. 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive Reston, VA 20192. Its also important to note that some bear populations involve several states, for instance, many bears live in or near Yellowstone National Park, which extends across Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana. This article from 2015 by the Roanoke Times quotes a wildlife biologist with the DGIF as saying there are as many as 17,000 Black Bears in Virginia, however the National Park Service suggests there are closer to 5,000 or 6,000. 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Idaho Like in a trash can, there are loads of calories here that a Black Bear would love. But in the last 30 years that population has 10xd, with the latest estimates being at 20,000 or more in the state today. As the habitat is lost and the human influx continues, bears are being pushed out of their habitat, which results in more human encounters.. The Black Bear population is growing and expanding in the U.S. which means that theres always a possibility of bears moving in from neighboring states, then breeding. Here are some quick tips for bear encounters. They are accurate to the best of my knowledge. Clear Skies. Grizzly bears can live to be 30 years in the wild, but most die before age 25. Their fur color ranges from black to light brown, making color a poor method of identification. The difference is regional: bears found inland are referred to as grizzlies, while those on the coasts are known as brown bears. Bears have been known to take leisurely swims in pools. However, the largest black bear ever recorded in the Palmetto State was 609 pounds, according to SCDNR. The messages seem to be working. But never trust a bear to turn down a free meal it smells at a campsite. Neither a human fatality nor even an attack have been attributed to a blackbearin South Carolina, an SCDNR news release said. Different states in the U.S. contain varying populations of Black Bears while some states, like the ones listed below, dont have breeding populations of Black Bears at all. In March 2022, a hiker in Montana was killed by grizzlies. There are an estimated 55,000 Grizzly bears in North America. Conservation Grizzly bears are federally listed as threatened. Black bears dont live very long lives their average age of death is around 18 years old, according to SCDNR. August 2011: A Candler man and his dog were injured in a scuffle with a bear, which started when the bear attacked the dog. [2] This large range in average size is caused by the geographic variations in the abundance of food. 30502), without regard to any other . Your email address will not be published. Which brings us to the topic of this article, the U.S. states with Black Bear populations. Recent evidence has shown that their population is growing and bears are more commonly seen in certain areas. Grizzlies live in various habitats, including forests . An estimated 10,000 to 12,000 Black Bears live in Colorado and are found mostly in Central and Western Colorado. One thing we know for certain, bears can eat a lot. Black bears can be found as far south as central Mexico and as far north as northern Alaska and most of Canada. Massachusetts Black bears live and breed in Worcester County, northern Middlesex County, and west to the Berkshires. mass.gov. Lake Clark National Park, Alaska. In terms of size, a male grizzly stands over 7 feet tall and can weigh more than 500 pounds. If grizzlies can range as far south as Mexico and inhabit desert areas like Texas and Arizona than the hibernation/fish hypothesis seems bunk. The American Black Bear and all its subspecies are common and pretty widespread throughout much of North America, as you can see from the range map above, which is also the only continent that you can find Ursus americanus. They also have the hump on their shoulders like that of grizzly bear. Black Bears in Colorado are often blonde, cinnamon or brown in color. Mississippis Black Bear population is thought to be between 100 and 150 bears. In order for black bears to survive these predators they must use their best defence tactics: running away! I stopped in Platoro, the collection of summer vacation cottages on the edge of the wilderness, on my way home. Official websites use .gov Removing bird feeders, squirrel feeders, and any outdoor containers of food for pets, goats, chickens, or other livestock is essential to staving off a hungry bear. (KOTA) -Last week a women was attacked and killed by a grizzly bear while camping in Montana, and while bears may be rare in the Black Hills, there have been more sightings in recent years, causing residents and tourists to wonder what they should do if they come across a bear. People need to be aware, and need to use extra precaution and common sense. They also love bird seed. Table Rock saw a nearly 8 percent increase in visitors in 2014, up to 332,660 from 308,132 a year earlier. Cover your swimming pool. Black bears are equipped with sophisticated reproductive strategies that have allowed the species to thrive, even in the face of intense competition for resources. Black Bears were classified as game mammals in the state in 1948 and even though they are hunted by humans, their population continues to thrive due to restrictive regulations and laws. There are believed to be around 7,000 bears in the state of Tennessee and the population is expanding and growing. It isnt clear why grizzly populations have struggled, but conservationists have some theories. It's less likely to be afraid of people." Black bears and grizzly bears have many things in common. Polar Bears: A momma polar bear with two cubs following close behind. In the early 20th century Grizzly Bears were common in the state, but now only the American Black Bear remains who is also the state animal of New Mexico. The conflict between humans is very low in the state with just 11 recorded bear attacks in Arizona since 1996. You can also find Grizzly Bears in Idaho, but they are more scarce and only found in a, Fun Fact: Coastal NorthCarolina is home to the, 10 Common Spiders in Oregon (With Pictures). About 90% of those bears reside in the Upper Peninsula and the remaining 10% live in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. That's roughly two-thirds the weight of a horse and only half as big as their distant cousins, the grizzly and polar bears. The Black Bears of Rhode Island were completely gone not that long ago, however they have been making their way back into the state from neighboring Connecticut. Im not sure honestly, let me know in the comments if you do. They are also found in a few small areas in the southwest and southeast. April 2006: A bear attacked and killed a 6-year-old girl in Cherokee National Forest in East Tennessee. The Regional Wildlife Supervisor for South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks, Mike Klosowski, says black bears are the only type of bear in the state, and like so many visitors, they are new to town. Grizzly Bears have a massive head with a prominent nose, rounded inconspicuous ears, small eyes, short tail and a large, powerful body (Pasitschnaik-Arts 1993). Here is your guide to the grizzly bear population by state. It is illegal to hunt, take, or own them. Males can weigh up to 350 pounds, while females can weigh around 250 pounts. Black Bears are found in small areas of both the Northeast Alabama and Southwest Alabama, but there are thought to be an estimated 200 bears in the entire state of Alabama. In the parks one primitive campsite, people must store food and trash themselves by hanging it in a tree and packing it out. As a result, adult black bears can weigh anywhere from 45-250kg. Black Bears are a vital part of the ecosystem in the state, but the population must be managed to reduce the risk of human and bear conflicts. This close call with a young man in the Smokies stresses how important it is for people to be bear aware and manage their food properly., Its very important to remain vigilant no matter where you are in the park. Where do grizzly bears live? August 2008: A bear was shot and killed after attacking an 8-year-old boy in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. According to Michigan.gov, there are between 15,000 and 19,000 Black Bears living in Michigan today. Photographs should be taken from a safe distance with a telephoto lens, Have a plan of action for dealing with bears and be sure everyone understands it. Although a grizzly wont go out of its way to attack humans, it can be dangerous to meet one in the wild. Sources/Usage Public Domain. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources - Rembert C. Dennis Building In the summer months, they prefer to consume plant foods such as berries or other sweet material whilst during the winter months they tend to dine on carrion and small prey such as rodents or deer. The bears in the Northeastern part of the state having only shown up in recent years and have moved into the state from Northwest Georgia. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Fudging numbers for no good reason, either South Carolina Coast Sees 93 Percent Increase In Black Bear Sightings. 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