Black bears, once common across the state, are present in Texas. While their populations are not as widespread as historically, these adaptable animals have begun to reclaim portions of their former range. Their presence highlights natural recovery and ongoing conservation efforts.
Current Distribution Across Texas
Texas currently hosts black bear populations primarily in the Trans-Pecos region, particularly within the Chisos and Guadalupe Mountains, Val Verde, and Crockett counties. These areas host the most stable breeding populations. Recent sightings indicate an expansion into the Western Hill Country, the Canadian River corridor in the Panhandle, and scattered reports in Deep Northeast Texas. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) actively monitors these populations, encouraging public reports to understand recolonization and distribution.
Historical Context and Recovery
Historically, black bears were widely distributed across Texas, from the piney woods of East Texas to the rugged mountains of the Trans-Pecos. By the 1950s, black bears were nearly extirpated from the state due to unregulated hunting, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflicts. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, black bears naturally recolonized Big Bend National Park, dispersing from thriving populations in northern Mexico. This natural return was augmented by bears wandering into East Texas from neighboring states like Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana, and from New Mexico into West Texas.
Habitat Preferences and Bear Behavior
Black bears seek environments providing food, water, and cover, preferring mountainous areas, desert scrub, and woodlands with dense vegetation or river bottoms. These omnivores have a diverse diet, up to 90 percent plant material like nuts, fruits, berries, and various plants. They also consume insects, such as beetles, wasps, and ants, and occasionally scavenge on carrion.
Pregnant females den from November to late May in hollow trees, brush piles, rock crevices, or caves. Other bears may not hibernate if food remains available. Adult male bears have home ranges averaging 20,000 acres, while females occupy about 5,000 acres.
Coexisting with Black Bears
Coexisting with black bears requires responsible practices to minimize conflicts. Never approach a bear; maintain a safe distance. Securing food sources is paramount: keep hunting camps clean, discard gut piles far from campsites, and use bear-resistant trash cans or dumpsters. Pet food and barbecue grills should also be secured and cleaned thoroughly. For those with feeders, using automated systems hung out of reach or planting food plots can help deter bears.
If an encounter occurs, remain calm, avoid direct eye contact, and slowly back away. Do not run, as this can trigger a chase instinct. If a bear approaches, stand your ground, make yourself appear larger, and yell to scare it away. In the rare event of an attack, fighting back aggressively is recommended. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department offers further guidance and should be contacted for problematic bear encounters.