Author Topic: Black Bears in Texas? (Read 3315 times)

markc · « **on:** July 06, 2005, 02:38:39 AM »

Guys read the story posted in todays Houston Chronicle, and lets see what you think about the idea. I think it may be a better idea than the reintroduction of wolves in some states in recent history.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/3254109

FWiedner · « **Reply #1 on:** July 06, 2005, 03:15:27 AM »

Quote

...this is not some killer, that it's more like an overgrown raccoon...

And who is it that wants a 300-pound "racoon" going through their garbage at midnight?

Maybe they'll have seconds thoughts once they have this critter on their back porch sharing the cat food...

:lol:

markc · « **Reply #2 on:** July 06, 2005, 05:29:29 AM »

I got a chuckle out of the raccoon comment in the story. I am thinking that they are trying to fool alot of folks who just don't know any better. Then again I think it said that guy was a lawyer. LOL

PEPAW · « **Reply #3 on:** July 07, 2005, 07:25:10 AM »

Wonder how bears and hogs get along? If we can teach the bears to eat little piglets, I am all for the bears.

pepaw

rockbilly · « **Reply #4 on:** July 10, 2005, 10:41:51 AM »

:shock: I'm really surprised there are no black bear in East Texas now. Back in the mid-sixties I ran across several bear while deer hunting along the Red River north of Alexandria, La. As close as that is to Texas I'm sure they must have also been in the East Texas area unless one of dem "coonies" needed some meat for a gumbo. I have never seen one, but am told they are fairly common in the Big Bend area of Texas.

If there is enough area for them to run wild I have a problem with re-introducing them to the area, but we all know, it won't be long before they show up at someone's door and that's when the "stuff" will hit the fan.

PEPAW · « **Reply #5 on:** July 11, 2005, 05:46:25 AM »

I think you will have very little luck introducing TX bears due to frequent contact with man.
I can only imagine how many will be killed by cars and 18-wheelers. I have an sad vision some of the deep east texas bears might dissappear and the tracking collars be cut off immediately.

Wish I was in the right area for the bear and the turkey restocking program.

pepaw

Grubbs · « **Reply #6 on:** July 29, 2005, 09:04:47 AM »

there are a few black bears in W. Texas.....mainly along the Rio Grande near Big Bend.

sjones · « **Reply #7 on:** October 06, 2005, 12:53:53 PM »

I used to have a lease just west of Langtry and hwy 90 years ago and every once in a while there would be one hit on the hiway.I saw one and the game man said they were starting to come up from mexico.It was a scrawny looking thing.I dodn't think it would have went over a 125 pounds if that. sj

williamlayton · « **Reply #8 on:** October 09, 2005, 02:54:01 PM »

I am convinced there are black bear in the Big Thicket area of Texas. This is an area That begins just N or Beaumont on the S side and extends to Just N of Sam Rayburn, from Louisiana to about Livingston.
It is a dense forrest and thick undergrowth, largely uninhabited. It was a barrier for westward migration.
Good folklore about this place. I have been lost in it twice and I knew where I was.
A published story about a car lost in this place by a hunter, in the 30's, and found in the 50's by someone who was lost and trying to find his way out.
There are stories of bear, cats and well, bigfoot.
Blessings

markc · « **Reply #9 on:** October 10, 2005, 03:17:12 AM »

in the piney woods for many years now and have heard lots of stories of big cats, but few about bears. I believe there could easily be big cats there, and maybe bears. There used to be black bears in those woods, so I suppose there could be a few, but doubt there are many living there now.. It is a wild place though for sure, and easy to get lost in...

sjones · « **Reply #10 on:** October 10, 2005, 09:40:09 AM »

WL,you are for sure right.I've been there before and there could be most anything back in there.I know one time during deer season,I was camping back there and heard some screaming that sounded just like a woman screaming.I don't know what it was,but it sure as he** got my attention.I didn't get much sleep that night.sj

GeneRector · « **Reply #11 on:** December 14, 2005, 11:51:16 AM »

Howdy! I've been interested in black bear for a long time. Texas Parks and Wildlife website has some info about black bear in Texas. About 125 years ago there were lots of black bear in Texas. There was even a hunting season until about 1960 for some parts in East Texas. As others have said previously, there are some bear out near the Big Bend area. Also, a few bear wander over into East Texas from Lousianna and Arkansas now and then. However, if a bear does not find enough to eat in the wild, then they may end up in someone's back yard or porch looking for food. This seems to be a big obstacle; however, it would be nice to see a few black bear in East Texas occasionally. Always, Gene

doorgunner · « **Reply #12 on:** January 21, 2006, 08:46:03 AM »

The black bear season in east Texas was in place well into the mid-1970's. I remember reading about it with fascination as a young, budding hunter, when looking at the season dates and bag limits in the TP&W handbook.

There is a small number of bears existing in the big thicket area of east Texas currently. I had the priveledge of seeing a sow and two small cubs when guiding mule deer hunters in the Glass Mountains of west Texas several years ago. That sow wouldn't have gone 150 pounds on a good day, but the cubs were energetically following her, and appeared to be healthy balls of fur.

My gut feeling is that we will eventually see a decent population of black bears in spotty areas in West Texas. They seem to have adapted well to the arid desert environment out there. I doubt seriously that they will ever be a huntable population out there, at least not in my lifetime.

DavOh · « **Reply #13 on:** February 06, 2006, 11:26:14 AM »

Black bears would be a welcome addition to east texas, in my opinion. Seems to me that "the thicket"(as we used to call it in HS) would be good habitat.

Of course anything's a better idea than the dweebs who want to introduce lions and zebras and african type animals to the great plains of the US. As many times as biologists have stepped in it by bringing foreign species here, you'd think they would have learned their lesson.

markc · « **Reply #14 on:** February 07, 2006, 02:30:48 AM »

with you. Besides there are already alot of African species here in Texas on game ranches, many of which might be considered endangered in their native country, but flourishing here..

rockbilly · « **Reply #15 on:** April 19, 2006, 03:38:56 PM »

A friend sent me an article from the Shreveport LA newspaper today with a picture of a black bear that was found in a tree in the back yard of a house in Bossier City. My thoughts...........if they are that close then surely some are already in East Texas.

Be sure to keep your eye peeled while picking blackberries this spring, you may have a friend on the other side of the patch. :-D

:eek:

markc · « **Reply #16 on:** April 20, 2006, 08:25:30 AM »

From a recent study on the history of E. Texas it is apparant that black bears were her before the thicket was settled. Whitetail deer were thick as thieves back then as well, but both were hunted to low numbers. Whether or not any black bears remained or are now being seen as bears coming in from other neighboring states I couldn't really say. It would not totally suprise me to see one back deep in the thicket though..

jrlinz · « **Reply #17 on:** May 23, 2006, 08:46:02 AM »

Quote from: FWiedner

Quote
...this is not some killer, that it's more like an overgrown raccoon...

And who is it that wants a 300-pound "racoon" going through their garbage at midnight?

Maybe they'll have seconds thoughts once they have this critter on their back porch sharing the cat food...

:lol:

Ever see a caged 'coon? Like the Tazmanian Devil, a blurred whirl of fir, teeth and claws, with saliva, urine and feces flying every which way. Multiply that times 10 or so. I have caught many in homemade boxtraps, and used them to train my redbones, as a teenager.

nomosendero · « **Reply #18 on:** September 06, 2006, 06:33:27 PM »

There are a lot of Bears in Southwest AR , so it would not surprise me if some moved down.

markc · « **Reply #19 on:** September 07, 2006, 04:36:13 AM »

Any bear hunting going on there in SW Arkansas?

nomosendero · « **Reply #20 on:** September 11, 2006, 02:55:00 AM »

Quote from: markc on September 07, 2006, 04:36:13 AM

Any bear hunting going on there in SW Arkansas?

The area nearest to TX. with an open season would be Bear Zone 2 starting about 75 miles North of
Texarkana & North from there into the vast Ouachita Nat. Forrest. Areas South of this zone are being stocked in the more remote places but no season in those counties at this time except in some areas of Southeast AR.

curdog · « **Reply #21 on:** September 11, 2006, 05:58:06 AM »

there should be some bears in n.e. texas. we have queit a few in s.e. oklahoma. there has even been rumors of starting a limited bear season here.

markc · « **Reply #22 on:** September 11, 2006, 07:23:31 AM »

Really? A bear season in Ok? That might be a nice option for us Texans who can't afford to travel far from home..

curdog · « **Reply #23 on:** September 11, 2006, 08:11:23 AM »

just talk at this stage, but the bear population is growing, we have two deer camp 75 miles apart and we are seeing alot of bear and sign.

nomosendero · « **Reply #24 on:** September 11, 2006, 11:02:13 AM »

That makes sense, the Ouachita Mountains & the National forrest in SW AR. extend over into OK & the border country is very wooly in parts. bear season has been going on for many years in AR. with the greatest concentration in the Ozark region in Northern AR. Some of this better Bear range is not over 75-100 miles from NE OK.

CyberSniper · « **Reply #25 on:** September 13, 2006, 04:52:26 PM »

This link provides some solid information:
http://www.countryworldnews.com/Editorial/ETX/2005/et0224bears.htm

markc · « **Reply #26 on:** September 16, 2006, 03:02:13 PM »

Thats an interesting article, thanks for posting it cybersniper...

CyberSniper · « **Reply #27 on:** September 16, 2006, 03:06:56 PM »

You're welcome.
When in doubt, run a google search guys.