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East Texas Black Bear Conservation and Management Plan 2005 – 2015

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East Texas Black Bear Conservation and Management Plan 2005 – 2015 East Texas Black Bear Conservation and Management Plan 2005 – 2015 July 2005 PURPOSE OF PLAN To facilitate the conservation and management of black bears in East Texas through cooperative efforts Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 4200 Smith School Road Austin, Texas 78744 Robert L. Cook, Executive Director Texas Parks and Wildlife Department PWD PL W7000-1046 (6/05) TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................1 II. Contributing Authors and Acknowledgments...........................................................................2 III. Introduction .............................................................................................................................3 IV. Natural History .........................................................................................................................4 A. Distribution....................................................................................................................4 1. Louisiana ...................................................................................................................5 2. Mississippi .................................................................................................................5 3. Arkansas ...................................................................................................................5 4. Oklahoma .................................................................................................................6 5. Texas.........................................................................................................................6 B. Description.....................................................................................................................8 C. Life History.....................................................................................................................9 1. Habitat Requirements................................................................................................9 2. Food Habits...............................................................................................................9 3. Reproduction...........................................................................................................11 4. Movements .............................................................................................................12 5. Denning Ecology .....................................................................................................15 6. Natural Mortality.....................................................................................................18 D. Conservation Status.....................................................................................................18 1. State Status .............................................................................................................18 2. Federal Status..........................................................................................................18 3. Other Non-Regulatory Status ...................................................................................20 V. Bordering States Bear Management.......................................................................................21 A. Louisiana .....................................................................................................................21 B. Arkansas......................................................................................................................22 C. Oklahoma....................................................................................................................23 VI. Conservation and Management Issues...................................................................................23 A. Habitat Management ..................................................................................................23 B. Human-Caused Mortality .............................................................................................25 C. Habitat Loss and Fragmentation..................................................................................25 D. Public and Political Support .........................................................................................27 E. Causes of Conflict .......................................................................................................27 F. Current Research .........................................................................................................28 VII. Conservation/Management Strategies....................................................................................30 A. Coordination and Communication...............................................................................31 B. Habitat Management and Fragmentation....................................................................31 C. Information and Education ..........................................................................................33 D. Conflict Management..................................................................................................37 E. Other Research............................................................................................................40 VIII. Partner Responsibilities...........................................................................................................42 IX. Implementation Schedule and Plan Revisions .........................................................................43 X. Literature Cited ......................................................................................................................44 XI. Appendices ............................................................................................................................53 1. Black Bear Investigation Report ...................................................................................54 2. Louisiana Black Bear Habitat Restoration Summary for 1992-2001..............................56 FIGURES Figure 1: Historic and occupied black bear ranges of the West Gulf Coastal Plain, United States ....................................................................................................................4 Figure 2: Counties in East Texas with confirmed black bear sightings, 1977-2003...........................7 Figure 3: Ursus americanus in a natural forested habitat…………………………...................................8 Figure 4: U. a. luteolus in an oak tree ...........................................................................................11 Figure 5: U. a. luteolus female with cubs on ground nest in spring...............................................12 Figure 6: U. a. luteolus female with cubs in ground den in logging slash pile…….. .......................16 Figure 7: Big Thicket National Preserve, Texas ...............................................................................26 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY It is recognized that historically two sub-species of black bear inhabited Texas. The American black bear (Ursus americanus americanus) occurred throughout most of west and central Texas, and the Louisiana black bear (Ursus americanus luteolus) ranged throughout East Texas. Currently, the status of the Louisiana black bear in East Texas is unknown; however, bear sightings are on the rise and their interactions with the public are expected to increase in the future. With this in mind, a committee of stakeholders comprised of representatives from state, federal, and private entities collaborated to develop this East Texas Black Bear Conservation and Management Plan. This plan was produced in the spirit of conservation for the purpose of re-establishing the bear as a viable part of the native wildlife community of East Texas. Several goals to be accomplished within the next 10 years were identified and include increased public coordination and communication, habitat manage- ment, research activities, and development and distribution of informational materials. Specific strategies addressed in this plan strive to promote public awareness through outreach while providing public and private biologists and willing landowners with the technical knowledge to increase and/or enhance suitable black bear habitat throughout East Texas. Research activities are directed at evaluating habitat availability and distribution, encouraging habitat restoration and management, and determining the survivability and reproductive capacity of black bears should they be introduced in East Texas. This planning endeavor was built upon a sound foundation of partnerships involving private landowners, private corporations, state and federal agencies, and interested conservation groups. The success of this plan will ultimately depend upon the strengths of these partnerships and the public and political support required to restore a federally threatened sub-species of black bear to the forests of East Texas. East Texas Black Bear Conservation and Management Plan 1 CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS James Barker1 National Park Service, Big Thicket National Preserve Omar Bocanegra U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arlington Gary Calkins Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Jasper Don Dietz Temple Inland Forest Products Corporation, Diboll Dr. Jeff Duguay2 Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches Nathan Garner Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Tyler Ricky Maxey Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Nacogdoches ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Participating Agencies and Organizations
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