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Bears in Our Ozarks

By Chris Ely

Dent County Conservation Agent

Each year, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) receives anywhere from 100 to

250 reports throughout the state by citizens who are delighted, astonished, alarmed and occasionally inconvenienced by a visit from Missouri ’s largest wild mammal, the black bear.  Black bear sightings are on the rise in Missouri ’s Ozarks.  In most cases, these visits are brief, exciting and harmless. 

In the past, there were few if any wild black bears in Missouri .  If there were any black bears living here, they kept themselves well hidden in the most remote areas of our Ozark woodlands. 

Meanwhile, between 1959 and 1967, Arkansas wildlife officials introduced 254 Minnesota and Manitoba black bears to join the 30 to 40 native Arkansas bears which were roaming the Arkansas wilderness.  These bears did what came naturally, they bred and bore litters. At some point, the more adventurous bears, mostly young males, began to seek out new territories with lower bear populations.  Some of these bears traveled north into Missouri .  These north bound bears gave rise to the bears which we occasionally see today in our Ozark woodlands.

People do not have to be overly concerned about black bears. These animals are very shy and avoid human contact. Often the only sign that a bear has been close by is its footprints.  However, bears are quite intelligent. If they find easily-obtainable food from humans, it does not take them long to become reliant upon our handouts, a dangerous combination.  Bear Biologists all over the country know the phrase “a fed bear ends in a dead bear.” Bears often take advantage of food items such as trash, honey from beehives, bird seed from feeders, and buffet style pet food.  When bears are present, it’s a good idea to temporarily remove these food items until the bear travels to other areas or becomes less active.  Bears are most active during the bear breeding season which runs from May until August and peaks in July.  A black bears diet consists of nearly 90 percent plant matter which it can easily find in Missouri ’s Ozarks, not from your front door.

Missouri black bears now number around 150 to 300 individuals, according to Dave Hamilton, who oversees the fur bearer management programs for MDC. Hamilton indicates that he has several ways of keeping tabs on Missouri ’s elusive bears.  Of these methods, citizen reports are still one of his primary sources of bear population information.

Missouri bear reports provide evidence of two population centers. One bear population is in southwest Missouri , around Table Rock Lake . While the other bear population exists in the eastern Ozarks around Shannon , Carter, Reynolds and Iron counties.  People in these areas or surrounding counties should be alert for possible bear sightings.  Persons who see bears should note the location, the size and behavior of the bear and call your local Conservation Agent or Conservation Office to obtain a Black Bear Report Card.  As always, never approach black bears or other wild animals.