Louisiana-Born Black Bear Detected in Mississippi

Wildlife officials in Mississippi confirmed that a black bear recently captured in Wilkinson County is originally from Louisiana. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) received a report of a tagged bear in the area.

Biologist Anthony Ballard identified the bear’s tags as belonging to a bear from Louisiana. The bear was orphaned as a cub in Louisiana in 2020, rehabilitated, and later released on Tunica Hills Wildlife Management Area.

The bear, now six years old, was recently captured in Mississippi, fitted with a GPS collar, and is expected to have cubs this spring. Her journey underscores the cooperation between state wildlife agencies to manage and conserve black bear populations across state lines, officials said.

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