Last updated on September 10th, 2021 at 11:43 am
Texas has historically been home to the American black bear (Ursus americanus), with several subspecies found in different parts of the state: U. a. eremicus (Mexican Black Bear) and U. a. amblyceps (New Mexico Black Bear) in West Texas; and U. a. luteolus (Louisiana Black Bear) in East Texas.
The Louisiana Black Bear ranged over most of East Texas, but was ostensibly extirpated from there in the early 1900s. While at one time its population thrived, it seemed likely that the Louisiana Black Bear in East Texas had finally succumbed to overhunting.
Through the years, federal, state and academic lists of wildlife did not include any mention of black bears in East Texas except perhaps as once having thrived there. A small population of the black bear in the Trans-Pecos region in far West Texas was acknowledged by state and federal authorities, but the rest of Texas was officially devoid of any remaining black bear population. In spite of this, rumors persisted among hunters and rural citizens of the Louisiana Black Bear’s continued existence in the most remote parts of East Texas, especially along the Louisiana-Texas state line and in the Big Thicket.
In recent years, there has been a gradual and growing movement of acknowledgement of the black bear’s eventual return to East Texas as populations in bordering states seemed to be thriving. It had to be just a matter of time, it was reasoned, before East Texas would once again be home to the black bear, even though a growing number of East Texans (and South Texans) were already claiming personal familiarity with black bears.
Texas Parks and Wildlife began to take reported sightings of the black bear in East Texas seriously, developing a sightings report form for encounters with the species.
Well, it now appears that tomorrow is today; take a peek at Texas Parks and Wildlife’s brochure Bear Safety in Mind (pdf).
