Perspective: Bear hunt will prevent overpopulation

Beginning Monday, Missouri will hold the first hunting season for black bears in the history of the state. Four hundred permits have been issued by lottery, with a harvest limit of 40 bears. Most of our bears are located south of Interstate 44, and three zones have been established in the southern part of the state, with different harvest limits for each area. Only lone bears can be taken, and the season will run until Oct. 27 or until the harvest limit is reached.

Black bears are native to Missouri but were believed to have been hunted to extinction by the 1930s. The bears were killed for food and bear oil, and logging and development eliminated much of their habitat. Scientists have since determined Missouri black bears were not completely eliminated, but likely reduced to such low numbers that humans didn't see them anymore.

The situation was similar in Arkansas, where black bear numbers were driven down to around 25 by the 1940s. Between 1958-68, the state of Arkansas reintroduced approximately 260 black bears in rural areas of the Ozark and Ouachita mountains, bringing in black bears from Minnesota and Canada. The bear population grew steadily, and Arkansas' black bear population now numbers somewhere around 5,000. These bears began migrating back to Missouri, and our bear population now numbers close to 800 animals. As I said, DNA testing has shown that some of Missouri's initial bear population must have survived and have now mixed into the population of bears that came here from Arkansas.

Black bears are generally skittish of humans and while they do eat meat such as small animals, they live on an omnivorous diet of largely berries and insects. The decision to allow black bear hunting has resulted in some controversy, and several organizations and individuals have thrown fits over it. Some have gone so far as to claim that we are going to hunt the bears back to extinction. So why are we doing it?

The population of black bears is growing at a rate of about 9 percent each year. This will result in the doubling of their numbers every eight years. With no natural predators other than humans, the bear population could potentially grow unchecked, resulting in thousands of bears in just a few decades. This creates the threat of increased encounters between bears and humans, especially with the bears mostly roaming in the southernmost part of the state. Similar to deer, overpopulation of black bears can be just as if not more problematic than underpopulation. The claims made that Missouri is going to allow 400 bears to be killed is false. Four hundred hunting permits were issued, but only 40 of those permits are allowed to be filled, which amounts to around 5 percent of the black bears estimated to be in our state.

Missouri did the same with our burgeoning elk population. After years of working to restore our elk population, the state allowed five hunting permits for elk last year. All five permits were filled. Five more elk permits will be granted this year, and our elk population continues to grow.

These measures are in line with our commitment to correctly manage our wildlife resources. Hunting, trapping and fishing are not just time-honored traditions here, they are methods we use to ensure that our wild animal populations stay healthy and grow at a rate that is sustainable. I am proud of the work Missouri is doing to ensure our game animals do not suffer from overpopulation or underpopulation again. It is simply the responsible thing to do.

State Sen. Mike Bernskoetter, R-Jefferson City, represents Missouri's 6th District and shares his perspective on statehouse issues twice a month.