Attention East Texans: Black Bears to return!

[TexasMLer]

Just wondering if you guys from Texas, particularly East Texas, are aware that the TPWD is considering re-introducing the black bear to our parts of the woods?

What are your thoughts on this issue? I am pretty excited about it. I've never seen a bear in the wild and I think it would be a pretty neat thing.

I know some are against it, but I haven't heard any arguments from either side so I don't have all the information, but on its face, it sounds neat to me.

 

[rayb]

Note that a bear was killed by a car near interstate 40 east of Amarillo, Texas last year. Several others sighted in the texas panhandle. Also in Del Rio area. Dry weather in New Mexico probably ran the panhandle ones out of New Mexico. SW Texas bears evidently came up from Mexico, also dry lately.

rayb

 

[TexasMLer]

Here's an article from an East Texas Newspaper:

"12/2/04 Black Bear return to be Presented Tonight:

The final draft of a plan to return the black bear to East Texas will be presented at 7 tonight at the meeting room in the back of the Angelina County Courthouse.

"Currently, the status of the Louisiana black bear in East Texas is unknown; however, bear sightings are on the rise and their interactions with the public are expected to increase in the future," states the newly released "East Texas Black Bear Conservation and Management Plan.

East Texas, particularly the Big Thicket, was the habitat of Texas

 

I saw one at night near Huntsville (Walker County) around 1980 but did not report to TPWD because I did not know that it was rare. He was small and already up a tree when he heard me coming - I thought it was a cub and could have shot him with a 22 if I had been so inclined. I have also seen very small ones in West Central Texas - probably up from Mexico.

 

[pepperbelly]

My niece and nephew in Nacadoches will be thrilled!
Jim