Experts with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks say black bear sightings in the Sunflower State are becoming increasingly common.
Matt Peek, wildlife and research biologist with the KDWP, says while sightings are still rare, they aren’t as unusual as they might have once been, Topeka ABC affiliate KTKA reports.
Since 2015, Peek says there have been 10 confirmed sightings of black bears in Kansas.
“Prior to about 2,000, bears occurred very rarely in Kansas,” Peek told KTKA. “Since that time, we’ve had annual black bear visits to southwest KS pretty consistently. Apparently these bears find their way back to established range in other states by the fall. Beginning in about 2015, we started getting nearly annual visits in southeast Kansas, which mirrored the increase in bears that have taken place near Kansas in Missouri and Oklahoma.
Black bears are typically sighted in the southeast and southwest corners of the state due to the areas being in close proximity to established black bear populations in nearby states.
“We’re not aware of any resident bears living year-round in the state at this time,” Peek told the ABC affiliate. “Almost all of our confirmed bears have been yearlings and documented May-July when this age class separates from their mom and disperses from their natal home range. Confirmations outside of these 3 months have been very rare, and no cubs have been documented in modern times.”
The counties with the most sightings in the state are Crawford, which has seven, and Cherokee, which has five, according to Fort Hays State University.
The full list of sightings and observations of black bears in Kansas, most being recorded after the year 2000, includes the following:
Bourbon: 1; Chautauqua: 1; Cherokee: 5; Crawford: 7; Doniphan: 3; Douglas: 1; Greeley: 1; Hamilton: 1; Labette: 2; Mitchell: 1; Morton: 3; Saline: 1; Stevens: 1.
Peek told KTKA that there have been no reports of bad encounters with black bears in Kansas in modern times.
Bears, including grizzlies, were once common in Kansas’ eastern areas but were driven out by the late 1800s. However, the KDWP does keep resources online to help people who are concerned about black bears near them.
“People should not be worried about encountering a black bear in Kansas,” Peek said. “They’re still uncommon and primarily limited to the southern corners of the state.”
Anyone who thinks they may have evidence of a bear sighting in Kansas should make a report to the KDWP by contacting the Emporia Research and Survey Office at 620-342-0658. Evidence can consist of videos, photos and/or tracks.
