Ecology and management of black bears in Missouri
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"American black bears (Ursus americanus) are the most abundant bear species in North America, and populations have been gradually increasing in Missouri over the past several years. As of 2025, it is estimated that 1,000 bears currently reside in the state. Black bears (Figure 1) are native to Missouri and were abundant throughout the state until the 19th century, when bear populations decreased due to unregulated harvests and losses of forest habitat. During the 1960s, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission captured 254 black bears in Minnesota and Manitoba, Canada, and released them in the Ozark and Ouachita mountain ranges in northern and western Arkansas. Over time, Arkansas' bear population increased, and as a result, hunting seasons were established. Over the past several decades, bear numbers have been gradually increasing in Missouri as bears from Arkansas have been dispersing northward into available habitats in the Ozark region and mixing with Missouri's remnant population. More recently, bears have been observed regularly north of the Missouri River, which further suggests that black bear populations are expanding their range in Missouri. The growth of Missouri's bear population should be considered a significant conservation success story. Now that a sustainable population is in place, a highly regulated hunting season has been established in certain areas of the state." -- first page
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Archive version. For the most recent information see extension.missouri.edu.
OpenAccess.
OpenAccess.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 License.
Provided for historical documentation only. Check Missouri Extension and Agricultural Experiment Station websites for current information.
Provided for historical documentation only. Check Missouri Extension and Agricultural Experiment Station websites for current information.