Historically, Texas was home to 4 of the 16 recognized subspecies of black bear.  The Mexican and New Mexican black bear occurred in west Texas, the Louisiana black bear in east Texas, and the American black bear throughout northern and central Texas. Extensive habitat loss and human exploitation that began during colonization and continued through the mid-twentieth century caused the decline of black bear in Texas.  Bears were rare in Texas at the beginning of the twentieth century, and by the 1940’s bears were considered extirpated from the state.  There have been sightings in east Texas in recent years, most thought to be transient sub-adult males moving out of Arkansas, Oklahoma and possibly Louisiana.

Plans for managing and restoring bears in east Texas are currently underway. Numerous stakeholder groups, including the BBCC and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, recently completed a “Management Plan for Black Bears in East Texas.” The document was over 2 years in the making and clearly defines a plan for management of resident bears and suggests the potential repatriation of bears to suitable habitat in east Texas. Michigan State University is currently conducting a public attitude survey as well as a habitat suitability survey of the Big Thicket area of deep east Texas.

Restrictions on black bear hunting in Texas were instituted in 1973, and by 1987, bear hunting was prohibited statewide. Bears were listed on the state endangered species list in 1987, and the status was changed to threatened in 1996. State criminal and civil penalties for illegal killing of a bear in east Texas range up to $5,780.