BLACK BEAR, 1: Black bear have been a rare sight in Texas 
but that's beginning to change ... details on Passport to 
Texas.

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

The Louisiana Black Bear, once a common sight in the 
wooded areas of east Texas, over time, seemed to 
disappear.

Pretty much by nineteen hundred there were few bears left in 
Texas. There was a small remnant population in west Texas, but 
by and large, bears had been extirpated, primarily from over 
hunting and loss of habitat. :13

Nathan Garner is regional wildlife director for region 
three in east Texas and contributing author of the East 
Texas Black Bear Conservation and Management Plan.

Since the mid-nineteen eighties, they've been making a natural 
comeback to Texas, [which is] basically an influence of what's 
happening around Texas, in the country of Mexico and 
surrounding states here in America. :11

Garner attributes their slow return to several factors.

Public education has increased, and awareness has increased, 
plus protection. And, and time ... and time ... time is important. 
Bears are a slow reproducing animal, and it takes them time to 
recover into areas where they used to live if there is still 
suitable habitat for them. :15

We'll talk about habitat challenges facing black bears 
tomorrow. 

Bears do need a fair amount of real estate to live in. :03

Until then visit passporttotexas.org where you'll find a 
link to the East Texas Black Bear Conservation and 
Management Plan.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife ... I'm Cecilia Nasti.



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