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WRP Land Home to First Black Bear Cubs in 30 Years

standing in the WRP tract where the bears were born, USFWS biologist Shauna Ginger holds the two cubs (photo by James Cummins, Wildlife Mississippi — click to enlarge)

(above) standing in the WRP tract where the bears were born, USFWS biologist Shauna Ginger holds the two cubs (photo by James Cummins, Wildlife Mississippi — click to enlarge)

MDWFP and USFWS biologists work carefully to measure the sedated sow bear (photo by Mike McCoy — click to enlarge)

MDWFP and USFWS biologists work carefully to measure the sedated sow bear (photo by Mike McCoy — click to enlarge)

Researchers from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently discovered two healthy female Louisiana black bear cubs born on NRCS Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) lands in the south delta region of Mississippi.  The MDWFP has been tracking the mother bear since she crossed the Mississippi River and made residence in the State during July 2005.  Mom was tranquilized; her radio collar replaced; and weight, blood serum, and other medical data taken to bear biologists to help them determine population characteristics; age and gender demographics; movement and habitat predilection; and reproduction projections.  The mother bear weighed 220 pounds while the cubs, estimated to be three to four weeks old, weighed only three and a half pounds.

The fact that the mother chose to give birth on a 10-year old WRP easement reflects positively on the value of WRP and the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) as producing high-quality habitat for this and other species on the federal list of threatened and endangered species.

remnant of a cypress/tupelo wetland in an oxbow in central Mississippi -- the land is entered into the Wetlands Reserve Program

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NRCS assisted landowner Hunter Fordice in developing a conservation plan to provide habitat restoration and management guidelines for the WRP easement area.  “As a landowner, it is extremely gratifying to see the habitat restoration efforts of WRP actually coming to fruition with the birth of these black bear cubs. The fact that the den site of the first black bear cubs born in the Mississippi Delta in over 30 years is situated in the middle of a WRP field is evidence that the habitat restored under this program is suitable for supporting these animals, and I am proud to be a part of their return to this area,” Fordice said.

Marsha Barbour, Mississippi’s First Lady, who assisted as one of the volunteers in the research excursion said, “It is important that all of us follow the conservation lead of Hunter Fordice so that we may continue to conserve black bears and restore their habitat for future Mississippians to enjoy."
Your contact is Jeannine May, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 601-965-4337.