Researchers from Mississippi State University are working with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks to conduct surveys on human/black bear interactions in the state. The purpose of the surveys is to better understand residents’ perceptions and attitudes toward black bears, as well as experiences with them and opinions on their management.
MDWFP Biologist Anthony Ballard hopes to use the results of this study to optimize public outreach and achieve the management goals of black bears in Mississippi. The study includes surveys sent to 4,000 hunters and 4,000 landowners to gather an unbiased perspective on black bears in the state.
Once a common sight in Mississippi, black bears nearly disappeared in the early 1990s. However, the population is believed to have increased over the last 25 years, although the exact number of black bears in the state remains unknown. The researchers are looking to gather information on property damage caused by black bears for landowners and hunting preferences for hunters if the black bear population were to become huntable.
The surveys are part of ongoing efforts to monitor and manage black bear populations in Mississippi, with the goal of better understanding the interactions between humans and these animals in the state.
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