When Lewis and Clark traversed our state in 1804, they were said to have an appetite for black bears, killing 10-12 themselves.
They weren't alone. Throughout the 1800s, settlers were harvesting bears unregulated, and the population plummeted, according to moblackbears.org/history/.
Fast forward more than a century. After being hunted to the verge of extinction, the black bear population has started to rebound. Now, the Missouri Department of Conservation is proposing we hunt them again.
It's not necessary for two primary reasons:
- The population still is extremely small and delicate. MDC estimates the black bear population at 540-840 in a state occupied by more than 6 million humans. Some say MDC's estimates are high, and most of the population that does exist is in southern Missouri. Even the department's "limited and highly regulated" hunting season could drive the population toward extinction again in Missouri.
- Black bears are beautiful, majestic animals that are shy and generally avoid humans unless they believe they will be fed. Education, not hunting, should be the key to MDC's black bear management plan.
MDC's proposal might excite big-game trophy hunters. But we can't imagine the average Missourian sees black bears as a burgeoning problem or want to see them killed.
At some point, it might be necessary to cull the bear population in Missouri. We're not there yet. Right now, the proposal is a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.
What do you think about black bear hunting in our state? Send us a letter to the editor and let us know at [email protected]. Also, let MDC know your feelings. Through June 5, written comments about the proposed hunting season can be mailed to: Missouri Department of Conservation, Attention Michele Baumer, PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO, 65102.
News Tribune