SEYMOUR, Mo. (AP) - Scientists have begun the third year of a project to document the increasing number of black bears in Missouri.
In the last two years, scientists with the Missouri Black Bear Project have tagged 108 bears in Missouri.
Hundreds of wildlife cameras and hair snare traps are in place around the state, ready to the Missouri Department of Conservation count the bears and document their movements.
The scientists trap the bears using tubs of stale doughnuts and honey-laced dog food. The animals are then sedated so researchers can attach a collar with a GPS transmitter. The bears also are weighed, measured and have teeth and hair pulled for further studies.
The Kansas City Star reports (http://bit.ly/KmE4Xt ) it is still unclear how many black bears live in Missouri.
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Information from: The Kansas City Star, http://www.kcstar.com