Current Louisiana Black Bear Research

Historic Range

Dr. Jay Clark from the University of Tennessee is currently developing a model to examine and try to predict the dynamics of isolated populations of both Louisiana and Florida subspecies of black bears.  The study will provide managers with the tools and information needed to assess and mitigate the impacts of current and future land use on black bear populations and to guide future reintroductions.


Arkansas

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are continuing their repatriation efforts, bringing bears from White River NWR to Felsenthal NWR in southern Arkansas.

Louisiana

Under the direction of Dr. Mike Chamberlain at Louisiana State University, John Benson is working on habitat use by bears in northeastern and south-central Louisiana.  Dr. Chamberlain is supervising work estimating the population of the coastal bears using a DNA hair-snare technique.

Mississippi

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks  (MDWFP) has been collecting radio-telemetry data on 25 bears throughout the state since 2004.   MDWFP biologists continue to monitor these bears, and have incorporated GPS collars into the study.  Data gathered from these bears will allow biologists and planners to make more informed decisions about the management of this species. 

MDWFP has recently funded a research project to be conducted by Mississippi State University.  This project will shed further light on the status of black bears in Mississippi.  The study will analyze data gathered by GPS tracking collars to compare movements and preferences of bears in different habitats throughout the state.  The study is designed to give an idea of what the future holds for Mississippi bears as the population continues to increase.  Food and habitat preferences along with dispersal and movement patterns will be analyzed to provide a glimpse into what the future holds for our state's bear population.  Plans are also underway to sample current attitudes about bear-related issues which can be compared to previous studies.  The information gathered will give an idea of what educational techniques have been effective, and what areas of the state need to be targeted in the future.

Texas

Under the direction of Dr. Jack Liu from Michigan State University, Anita Morzillo is currently undertaking a comprehensive research project for a 12 county area in east Texas.  She is conducting a public opinion survey, a habitat suitability analysis, and creating a model to predict the feasibility of a successful bear reintroduction in the area.