New Hampshire is recognized for its extensive forests and abundant wildlife, where the American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) is a prominent mammal. This species is the sole bear found within the state, making it the focus of conservation and management efforts. Understanding the size and distribution of this population is fundamental for maintaining ecological balance and ensuring public safety, especially as human development expands into forested habitats.
The Current Black Bear Population Estimate
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (NHFG) conducts regular assessments to determine the size of the state’s black bear population. The most recent estimates place the statewide population at approximately 6,300 bears, based on data analysis from the 2023 season. This figure represents an estimate derived from sophisticated modeling, not a direct count of every animal. The population is considered robust and healthy, a result of decades of careful wildlife management.
The statewide bear density is estimated to be around 0.7 bears per square mile, which is currently above the department’s long-term objective of 0.52 bears per square mile. This density is high compared to many other eastern states, reflecting New Hampshire’s significant forested area and successful conservation history. The actual number fluctuates annually based on factors like natural food availability and reproductive success.
Geographic Distribution Across New Hampshire
The distribution of black bears across New Hampshire is not uniform, with densities varying significantly between the six established bear management regions. Historically, the population was concentrated in the large, unbroken forest tracts of the northern part of the state. Today, the highest densities remain in the Northern, White Mountains, and Central regions, where habitat blocks are largest and human development is least fragmented.
The White Mountains region, for example, has seen densities estimated at nearly double the management goal in recent years. Due to habitat recovery and successful management, the bear population has expanded its range southward into the more developed central and southern counties. Although the southeastern region has the lowest amount of available bear habitat, bears are now found in all ten counties of the state. This expansion has led to increasing encounters between bears and people in more suburban areas.
How the Population is Monitored
The estimation of the black bear population relies on a multi-faceted approach utilizing several scientific methodologies. One method involves collecting biological data from bears harvested during the regulated hunting season. Biologists collect a small tooth, typically a premolar, from each registered bear to determine its exact age through cementum analysis.
This age and sex data is used in a “change in age ratio model” for population reconstruction and estimation. This sophisticated model tracks how the age structure changes over time, providing estimates of survival and recruitment rates. Data collected from radio-collared female bears also informs this model, detailing survival, reproductive success, and denning patterns.
Additional data collection methods include using bear observation rates reported by deer hunters in annual surveys. These observation indices help the NHFG partition the statewide population estimate into regional management units. Other techniques, like DNA-based hair snare surveys, have been used to validate the accuracy of the primary modeling methods.
Population Trends and Management Goals
The black bear population in New Hampshire has undergone a remarkable recovery since the mid-20th century. In the early 1980s, the statewide estimate was only around 1,000 to 1,200 bears, but that number has grown substantially to the current level of approximately 6,300 animals. This growth is attributed to improved forest management practices and sound wildlife conservation policies.
The current management objective is to regionally manage the bear population to maintain a stable, healthy population while minimizing human-wildlife conflicts. Since the population is above the statewide density goal, the strategy focuses on reducing the population by a targeted percentage in specific regions, such as the White Mountains and parts of the Southwest and Southeast. Regulated hunting is the primary tool utilized by the NHFG to achieve these goals. Season structures are adjusted, including the allowance of a second bear tag in high-density areas, to bring regional densities back into alignment with established objectives.