Missouri Bear Safety
Missourians need to be bear prepared Black bears seldom bother humans, but attacks do happen. Follow these tips to help avoid or repel aggressive bears. JEFFERSON CITY –What would you do if you rounded a bend in a trail and came face to face with a bear? The Missouri Department of Conservation has advice about what to do in that scenario and, even better, how to avoid it. Missouri is home to a small number of black bears, the only bear species found here. The statewide population is estimated at only 300 to 500 bears. However, the number is growing slowly, thanks to natural reproduction and immigration from Arkansas. One of the most useful things for avoiding bear confrontations is knowing where you are likely to see a bear. The Conservation Department has confirmed bear sightings in 61 of the state’s 114 counties. However, 90 percent of the state’s bears live south of Interstate Highway 44. “You could see a bear in the northern two-thirds of the state,” said Resource Scientis...
