From Kaitlyn Shive at KOAM-TV:
"This is not the first sighting of a black bear in the area.
Shawn Allen of Allen Family Farm and Apiaries says that a bear was on his back porch and that it had returned a second time. As a beekeeper, Allen is worried that the bear will come back and try to get to his beehives. He is preparing to surround the hives with an electric fence to protect them.
A footprint of a bear was also found at the Shoal Creek bridge construction site.
According to the Missouri Department of Conservation's website, black bears are making a comeback in Missouri. The website advices to never feed the bears, empty your trash cans often and to lock outdoor trash cans at night. It says that electric fences are also a good way to keep bears out. If a sighting occurs, reporting it to the Missouri Department of Conservation is encouraged.
"You just have to be cautious of what you do and keep an eye out" added LaFleur.
You can find more information on black bears and what to do if you see one on the Missouri Department of Conservations website."
https://mdc.mo.gov/wildlife/nuisance-problem-species/nuisance-native-species/black-bear-control
Ursus Americanus (American Black Bear) "is one of the largest and heaviest wild mammals in Missouri. It has a long muzzle with a straight facial profile; rounded, erect ears; rather short, stout legs; and a very short tail practically concealed in the long, heavy fur. For black bears in Missouri, the fur is predominantly glossy black; the muzzle is brown, and there is usually a white patch on the chest. The sexes look much alike, though females are usually smaller than males. Black bears are usually silent but can make a variety of sounds. they may grunt, mumble, squeak, roar, huff, bellow, hum, moan, or purr.
Total length: 46–78 inches; weight: 86–900 pounds.
Richard Mann at Field & Stream says,
"Contrary to popular belief, black bears are not that hard to kill. On average, they go under 250 pounds. Shots are usually close, and the fact that many bruins are taken incidentally by deer hunters, with deer-hunting rifles should tell you something. But they’re still bears. As a rule, it doesn’t hurt to make a big hole."Here are The 10 Best Black Bear Cartridges. The optimum load for a trophy bruin depends on how you plan to hunt.
MDC continues: "Black bears live in heavily wooded areas. In winter they den in a hollow tree, cave, an excavated hollow in the ground or another shelter. In summer they sleep in trees or on the ground. Black bears used to be abundant in the state but had become rare by 1850 and were nearly eliminated by 1931. Reintroduction efforts in Arkansas have increased their numbers in our state. Because a bear can become a danger when it learns to associate humans with food, it is important to keep them wild.
Foods
Black bears eat a variety of foods. Plant matter includes grass, berries and other fruits, various seeds and nuts, the inner bark of trees and roots. Animal food includes ants, bees and their honey, crickets and grasshoppers, fish, frogs, small rodents, fawns, bird eggs, and many kinds of carrion. Acorns are an important food source in the fall as bears prepare for winter.
Status: Mostly extirpated from the state since the 1950s, black bears have been making a comeback. In 1958, Arkansas began reintroducing bears into that state, and sightings in Missouri increased beginning in the 1960s. A 2010 large-scale DNA study of Missouri's bear population suggests that our largest population, in south-central Missouri (Webster and Douglas counties), may represent a small remnant of that region’s historical population, combined with bears descended from the Arkansas releases."
Photo credit: Noppadol Paothong & the Missouri Black Bear Project website.
