Wildlife Management: Louisiana Black Bear Resources

The Louisiana black bear is a subspecies of the American black bear that resides in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Due to low population numbers, these bears have been classified in Mississippi as endangered since 1984 and were listed in 1992 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as threatened. Recovery efforts and research are continuing to improve habitat conditions and aid the recovery of this species.

These resources have been compiled from various resources and agencies and are provided here for educational purposes only. Please if you find information that needs to be updated, broken links, or if you have an additional resource you feel is pertinent.

• Ecology and Management of the Louisiana Black Bear
  Mississippi State University Extension Service. A comprehensive publication that covers the history and status of the Louisiana black bear, its ecology including movement, food requirements and reproduction, habitat requirements, how to manage black bear habitat, human and bear conflict issues and resolutions, as well as the assistance programs for landowners.
• Bear Education and Restoration Group of Mississippi (BEaR)
  This organization supports "the restoration and management of ecologically viable and socially acceptable black bears in Mississippi."
• Black Bear Conservation Committee
  This committee strives to promote the restoration of the black bear by conducting research, educating the public, and actively managing habitat. Their website provides information on living with bears, bear habitat, and information about the bears.
• Louisiana Black Bear
  Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and Black Bear Conservation Committee. In addition to providing a description of the Louisiana black bear, this publication describes its distribution and habitat, life history, threats to the black bear and the reason for its decline, as well as the recovery efforts.
  
• Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks Black Bear Program
  View the state management plan, read articles about the past history of the Louisiana black bear in Mississippi, read the publication "Conservation and Management of Black Bears in Mississippi" which discusses the conservation status of the bear, ecology, current distribution, public support and opposition for bear restoration, habitat management and restoration, conflict management, and future research and education efforts.