FEBRUARY MAGAZINE PREVIEW: Black bear are slowly 
returning to East Texas. Read about it in the February 
issues Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine ... details ahead 
on Passport to Texas ... 
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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Black bear have been scarce in East Texas for the better 
part of a generation; habitat loss has been pegged as the 
main reason for the species' decline. In the February issue 
of Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine, read an engaging 
article about their comeback. Managing editor, Charles 
Lohrmann.

"We have an amazing story by Joe Nick Patoski about the 
return of black bears to East Texas. Over the past thirty 
years, there've been something like fifty verified 
sightings, and then hundreds of anecdotal sightings of 
bears throughout East Texas -- particularly in the Big 
Thicket and the national forests. The bears are moving 
into east Texas from Louisiana, and they're finding homes 
in the best habitat in East Texas. And the good thing 
about that is, is that good bear habitat means healthy 
forests. So, most people are happy black bear are moving 
back because that biodiversity means that the natural 
world is maintaining a balance that will support the bears. 
In some cases people are concerned about bears because 
they're afraid they'll be predatory. But in reality it's 
more likely that a stray dog will hurt you 
than a bear."

The February 2006 issue of the Texas Parks and Wildlife 
Magazine is on newsstands now. 

That's our show for today ... for Texas Parks and 
Wildlife ... I'm Cecilia Nasti.