Black bears, the only bear species found in Arkansas, have seen their populations rebound after nearly being extirpated. This has made encounters more common across various landscapes. This article explores where black bears are typically found, their population recovery, and how to safely coexist with them. Understanding bear behavior and their preferred environments is important for both residents and visitors sharing the landscape.
Key Habitats and Distribution
Black bears in Arkansas primarily inhabit the forested regions of the Interior Highlands, including the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains. These areas offer dense hardwood and oak-hickory forests, providing abundant food sources like acorns and berries, and secure denning sites such as rock crevices, tree cavities, and brush piles. Bears seek out relatively inaccessible terrain with thick understory vegetation for protection and foraging. The Ouachita National Forest, spanning parts of Arkansas and Oklahoma, is a significant area for black bear populations, particularly along the Talimena National Scenic Byway.
Beyond the mountainous regions, bears are also found in the bottomland hardwood forests of the Delta and Mississippi Alluvial Plain, particularly in southeastern Arkansas. While historically statewide, their current distribution is not uniform, with major concentrations in these primary forested zones. Sightings have increased in adjacent areas of Oklahoma and Missouri, suggesting range expansion. Bears in these areas favor remote, rugged territories that offer ample food and water.
Population Trends and Recovery
Black bears were once widespread across Arkansas, leading to the state’s unofficial nickname, “The Bear State,” with pre-settlement estimates reaching 50,000 animals. By the 1930s, unregulated hunting and habitat destruction drastically reduced their numbers to fewer than 50, mostly in the White River National Wildlife Refuge. Recognizing this severe decline, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) closed the bear hunting season in 1927.
A significant AGFC reintroduction effort between 1958 and 1968 brought 254 to 256 black bears from Minnesota and Manitoba, Canada, to the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains. This program is recognized as one of the most successful large carnivore reintroductions globally. Today, the black bear population in Arkansas is estimated to be over 3,000 animals, with some sources indicating over 5,000 bears. Populations in the bottomland hardwood forests of southern and eastern Arkansas are growing at approximately 4% per year, and the AGFC actively manages them through regulated hunting seasons to ensure sustainability.
Sharing the Landscape with Bears
Coexisting with black bears involves understanding their behavior and taking precautions to minimize potential conflicts. Black bears are generally shy and prefer to avoid human contact, often retreating if they detect human presence. Most conflicts arise when bears are attracted to human-provided food sources, causing them to lose their natural fear. Therefore, secure trash, pet food, bird feeders, and other attractants in secure buildings or bear-resistant containers.
When recreating in bear country, make noise by talking, whistling, or singing to alert bears to your presence, allowing them to move away unnoticed. Hiking in groups is also recommended, as larger groups are more easily detected. If a bear is encountered, remain calm, stand your ground, and slowly back away. Running can trigger a chase response, as bears can run up to 30 miles per hour.
Make yourself appear larger by raising your arms and speaking in a calm, assertive voice to deter an approaching bear. Bear spray can be used as a deterrent in aggressive encounters, but it should only be used directly on the bear. If cubs are sighted, immediately leave the area, as the mother bear will likely be nearby and protective.