As the bear population grows and expands its range in Missouri, questions about the species present naturally arise, particularly concerning the grizzly bear. This article clarifies which large carnivore truly inhabits the Missouri landscape.
The Definitive Answer
Grizzly bears do not inhabit Missouri. The state lies far outside the current and historical range of this species, which is confined primarily to the western Rocky Mountain states, Alaska, and Canada. While the historic range of the grizzly once extended onto the Great Plains, there is no evidence of a sustained population ever existing within Missouri.
All wild bears currently living within the state are American Black Bears. This species is the only one found in Missouri, and its healthy, expanding population is concentrated mostly in the forested regions south of the Missouri River.
Identifying Missouri’s Native Bears
The American Black Bear possesses several distinct physical characteristics that differentiate it from the grizzly. Unlike the grizzly, the black bear lacks the prominent muscular hump between its shoulders, giving it a more level profile. It has a long muzzle with a straight facial profile, and its ears are taller and more erect compared to the grizzly’s smaller, rounded ears. Black bears range in weight from 86 to 600 pounds, with males being larger than females.
Its claws are short and sharply curved, an adaptation that makes the black bear an excellent tree climber. Coat color is not a reliable identification tool, as black bears can be black, brown, or even cinnamon-colored.
Coexisting safely requires proactive steps from humans. Securing all potential food attractants, such as garbage, pet food, and bird feeders, is the most effective way to prevent bears from becoming habituated to human presence. If a bear approaches, making noise and standing your ground can encourage it to leave, a practice known as hazing.
History of Bear Recovery Efforts
The American Black Bear was once abundant throughout Missouri but was reduced to local extinction by the early 1930s due to unregulated hunting and extensive habitat destruction. For decades, bears were considered nonexistent in the state’s wilderness areas. Re-establishment began through migration from Arkansas.
Starting in the late 1950s, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission relocated over 200 black bears from Minnesota and Manitoba. As that population took hold, bears began to wander north into Missouri’s heavily forested Ozark region. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) now manages this recovered population.
Formal monitoring efforts revealed that the bear population was growing at an estimated rate of about nine percent annually. By 2019, the estimated population of American Black Bears in Missouri was between 540 and 840 individuals.