As Mississippi’s black bear population continues to increase, so do your chances of laying eyes on one of these elusive creatures.  Black bears are shy and secretive by nature and prefer large expanses of forest habitat.  However, during the summer months, your chances of seeing one might improve.
The months of June and July are the time when sub-adult male bears are forced to leave their mother’s range and go in search of their own territory.  This behavior can lead young bears hundreds of miles in almost any direction and through territory that is often very unfamiliar.  “This is the time of year that we get the most calls about bears showing up in unexpected locations throughout the state,” said Brad Young, Black Bear Program Leader for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks.  “These reports are almost always two- or three-year old males.”

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