“I think most people overestimate their size when they see bears. Bears are so rare to see that you really have no comparison.”
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A family in Gatlinburg was on their patio when a bear approached and wanted to hang out.
There are two species of black bear in Mississippi: the Louisiana black bear in the south and the American black bear in the northern third of the state. Both species were nearly extinct in the state about 100 years ago, but are now making a comeback.
Photos and videos appear frequently on social media and are posted daily on the Mississippi Black Bear Facebook page. Some of the bears appear to be quite large. So how many bears are there in the state and how big do they get?
“That’s one of the questions I get asked most often: ‘How big do bears get in Mississippi?'” says Anthony Ballard, black bear program coordinator for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.
When looking at photos and videos or even when looking at a bear directly, Ballard said, people often misjudge the weight of bears. One reason for this is that bears with thin fur look smaller to people, while bears with thick winter fur appear larger, Ballard said.
The number of bears in the state also influences people’s weight perceptions. Although sightings are regular in Mississippi and the population is growing, they are still relatively small compared to other animals like deer, so most people are not as familiar with bears as they are with deer.
“It’s one of those things that takes practice,” Ballard said. “I think most people overestimate their size when they see bears. Bears are so rare that you really have nothing to compare them to.”
However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t extremely large bears in Mississippi.
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How big do bears get in Mississippi?
According to MDWFP, an adult female weighs on average 45 to 113 kilograms, while adult males weigh between 68 and over 180 kilograms.
And some are even getting bigger.
“The largest dog ever recorded in the state weighed 475 pounds and came from Wilkinson County,” Ballard said. “That was a roadkill.”
“We actually did a full-body taxidermy on this one and it’s at (MDWFP) headquarters in Jackson. There was one (roadkill) in Claiborne County earlier this summer, that was 411.”
Ballard said it was so big that a tractor was needed to move it.
“It was huge,” Ballard said.
More: Here’s what to do and what not to do if you encounter a black bear. (Cocaine bear not included)
Are there many big bears in Mississippi?
If you’re talking percentages, the answer is yes, but what’s considered large when it comes to black bears? Ballard said 300 pounds is considered large almost anywhere black bears are found, and he’s gotten his hands on plenty of bears in that size range in Mississippi when he’s captured them and fitted them with GPS tracking collars for research purposes.
“Many of the bears we’ve captured weigh around 300 pounds, and they’re all trophy bears,” Ballard said.
And there are several reasons why we have a high percentage of large bears. Ballard attributes this in part to deer feeding, where bears enjoy large portions of dried corn and other supplemental foods intended for deer.
The other reason is the lack of a bear hunting season, as bears are a protected species in the state due to their small population. In states where there is a hunting season, Ballard said hunters tend to select the larger bears to hunt. Without it, bears can often live to a ripe old age.
“The average life expectancy is 25 to 30 years,” Ballard said. “They grow their entire lives. Without the hunting aspect, bears can basically live to their maximum life expectancy because there are few things other than cars that can kill them.”
Where are there the most bears in MS? This new map shows it. Expect many more sightings soon.
How many bears are there in Mississippi?
The short answer is: we don’t know.
Bears were once a popular game animal and source of meat in Mississippi. In the early 1900s, the population was estimated at fewer than 12 bears due to unregulated hunting and habitat loss.
In 2002, the population was estimated at fewer than 50 bears and there was no evidence of breeding in Mississippi. However, over the past 20 years, more bears have moved in from neighboring states and breeding populations have been established.
In recent years, the department has estimated the population at 150 or more. How many remain today is unknown. Ballard has stated that this estimate is likely outdated and that the number is significantly higher.
For this reason, the agency is placing greater emphasis on collecting bear data to get a clearer picture of the bear population.
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