Mississippi Black Bear Research Reaches New Milestones in 2024

Written with artificial intelligence assistance.

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) has announced significant progress in its Black Bear research efforts for 2024. The MDWFP Black Bear Program has successfully trapped, sampled, and collared 13 new black bears across eight counties in the state. This data will be crucial for understanding bear density, movement patterns, and genetic diversity.

A highlight of the program's achievements is the continued use of "Rudy," an innovative bear trap designed and built by the program. This trailer-mounted trap, equipped with livestream capabilities and remote triggering, has captured and collared 24 bears over the past year.

Building on this success, the bear program has introduced an even more advanced trap this year. The new model is designed for greater mobility and versatility, featuring retractable wheels and a roll-out floor that allows it to be easily winched into a truck bed. This design enables the trap to be transported to the site using an ATV or UTV, eliminating the need for a trailer.

In addition, the MDWFP is collaborating with the Mississippi State University Carnivore Lab to enhance genetic research. New “hair snares,” which use barbed wire to collect hair samples from bears, are being deployed to gather genetic data.

The MDWFP extends its gratitude to landowners who have provided access for these studies and is currently seeking additional properties in Southwest and Southeast Mississippi for trapping. Interested landowners are encouraged to contact the MDWFP to contribute to this important research.

For more information about the MDWFP Black Bear Program, visit [MDWFP's Black Bear Program].

MDWFP Black Bear ProgramPhoto byMDWFP