Louisiana black bear

Short description: Subspecies of carnivore

Louisiana black bear

Conservation status

Imperiled (NatureServe)[1]

Delisted (ESA)[2][3][4]

Scientific classification
Kingdom:  | Animalia
Phylum:  | Chordata
Class:  | Mammalia
Order:  | Carnivora
Family:  | Ursidae
Genus:  | Ursus
Species:  |

U. americanus

Subspecies:  |

U. a. luteolus

Trinomial name
Ursus americanus luteolus

Griffith, 1821

The Louisiana black bear (Ursus americanus luteolus), one of 16 subspecies of the American black bear, is found in parts of Louisiana, mainly along the Mississippi River Valley and the Atchafalaya River Basin. It was classified as 'threatened' under the U.S. Endangered Species Act from 1992–2016. The validity of this subspecies has been repeatedly debated.[5]

## Contents

* 1 Description
* 2 Distribution and habitat
* 3 Conservation
* 3.1 Hunting
* 4 References

## Description

The subspecies does not have a substantially different appearance than the nominate U. americanus americanus, but the skull is relatively long, narrow and flat and the molars are proportionately large.[6] The fur color is usually black, but a cinnamon phase is known to exist.[7]

## Distribution and habitat

The Louisiana black bear historically occurred in Louisiana, Mississippi, East Texas and Arkansas.[5]

Four areas are currently known to have populations of the black bear:[8]

* St. Mary Parish and Iberia Parish in south Louisiana,
* Pointe Coupee Parish in central Louisiana,
* the Richard K. Yancey Wildlife Management Area in Concordia and Avoyelles Parishes, in east-central Louisiana
* Tensas, Madison, and West Carroll Parishes in northeast Louisiana.

The Louisiana black bear can travel for long distances and has been sighted in many areas of Louisiana not normally considered bear habitat.[8] Occurrences are reported from East Texas[9] and subpopulations have expanded into Mississippi.[10] Black bears have been sighted in Kisatchie National Forest,[11] Allen Parish, Natchitoches Parish, East Baton Rouge,[12] and Bossier City.

## Conservation

While the IUCN classifies the conservation situation of the black bear as a species as Least Concern, the Louisiana black bear as a subspecies was listed as 'threatened' under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 1992.[3] Under this ruling, all bears within the historic range of the Louisiana black bear, from eastern Texas to southern Mississippi, have been protected.[3] On April 11, 2016, this protection of the Louisiana black bear was eliminated as were the related Similarity-of-Appearance Protections for the American black bear.[4]

Loss of habitat was the primary reason the bear was placed on the federal endangered species list. Programs and initiatives have resulted in the conservation and restoration of over 600,000 acres (240,000 ha) of forestland in the Mississippi River floodplain of Louisiana. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have acquired land for Wildlife Management Areas and National Wildlife Refuges. Reforestation on private property has been accomplished through U.S.D.A. programs such as the Wetlands Reserve Program and Conservation Reserve Program,[13] the American Forest Foundation, as well as through programs of private conservation organizations such as the Black Bear Conservation Coalition (BBCC),[14] The Nature Conservancy and Ducks Unlimited.

### Hunting

With the federal delisting, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is solely responsible for black bear conservation and protection. The 2024 hunting season allowed for the issuance of limited permits, resulting in the harvest of 10 bears and 16 for the 2025 season.[15] Organizations that oppose Louisiana black bear hunting are The Humane Society of Louisiana, and Atchafalaya Basinkeeper (ABK) [16]

The Florida black bear was also hunted by permit in 2025, with 52 being taken out of 172 permits. There is an estimated 4050 bear population in Florida.[17] The state joins 30 others that allow regulated hunting of black bears.[18] Opponents in Florida include The Sierra Club,[19] Bear Warriors, which led an unsuccessful attempt with a court order against the FWC, and Bear Defenders. The FWC has constitutional authority (Article IV, Section 9) to regulate and manage fish and wildlife resources.

## References

1. ↑ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0". https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.101746/Ursus_americanus_luteolus.
2. ↑ "Louisiana black bear (Ursus americanus luteolus)". U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/8552.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 57 FR 588
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 USFWS (11 March 2016). "Removal of the Louisiana Black Bear From the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Removal of Similarity-of-Appearance Protections for the American Black Bear". Federal Register 81 (48): 13124–13171. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/03/11/2016-05206/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-removal-of-the-louisiana-black-bear-from-the-federal. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Garshelis, D.L.; Scheick, B.K.; Doan-Crider, D.L.; Beecham, J.J.; Obbard, M.E. (2016). "Ursus americanus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T41687A45034604.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41687/45034604. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
6. ↑ Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. ﻿Louisiana Black Bear﻿ (Report). http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_w7000_0013_louisiana_black_bear.pdf.
7. ↑ Mammals of America. Harold Elmer Anthony University Society, Incorporated. 1917. pp. 98–. https://books.google.com/books?id=RqMqAQAAIAAJ&dq=Pelage+of+the+Louisiana+black+bear&pg=PA97. Retrieved 2017-03-07.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Louisiana Black Bear habitat". United States Fish and Wildlife Service. https://www.fws.gov/southeast/wildlife/mammal/louisiana-black-bear/.
9. ↑ "Rare black bear shows up on Texas man's driveway". Houston Chronicle. https://www.chron.com/life/wildlife/article/east-texas-bear-20826074.php.
10. ↑ "Mississippi man sentenced in Louisiana black bear killing". The Clarion-Ledger. http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2017/03/06/mississippi-man-sentenced-louisiana-black-bear-killing/98797240/.
11. ↑ "Kisatchie Wildlife, Black Bear sightings". USDA. http://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/kisatchie.
12. ↑ "Black bear spotted in Central neighborhood captured by Wildlife and Fisheries officials". The Advocate. https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/crime_police/article_b693b6f6-85f2-11e8-b8b4-db3529659f9b.html.
13. ↑ "Forestry assistance programs". http://forestry.about.com/od/forestryhelp/a/costshare.htm?ad=semD&an=google_s&am=broad&q=louisiana+conservation&o=4340&qsrc=999&l=sem&askid=3914aebe-cbb5-4c9c-8c27-0f1bc430770e-0-ab_gsb.
14. ↑ "Black Bear Conservation Coalition". Black Bear Conservation Coalition. http://www.bbcc.org/.
15. ↑ Smith, Mike (2026-01-07). "Louisiana's newly reinstated bear hunting season ends. Biggest was 565 pounds.". https://www.nola.com/news/environment/louisianas-newly-reinstated-bear-hunting-season-ends-biggest-was-565-pounds/article_ae1c9379-84e2-4ef9-94fe-d7d64e6111cf.html?utm_medium=notification&utm_source=pushly&utm_campaign=desktop_push.
16. ↑ Smith, Mike (2026-01-07). "Louisiana's newly reinstated bear hunting season ends. Biggest was 565 pounds.". https://www.basinkeeper.org/the-louisiana-black-bear-litigation/article_ae1c9379-84e2-4ef9-94fe-d7d64e6111cf.html?utm_medium=notification&utm_source=pushly&utm_campaign=desktop_push.
17. ↑ Call, James (August 7, 2025). "Florida bear hunt battle heats up as FWC prepares for controversial vote". https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/state/2025/08/07/florida-conservationists-protest-fwcs-bear-hunting-proposal/85514761007/.
18. ↑ Bridges, C.A. (December 30, 2025). "FWC says 52 black bears killed in controversial 2025 Florida hunt". https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2025/12/30/florida-results-black-bear-hunt/87963217007/.
19. ↑ Muller, Wesley (January 5, 2024). "Louisiana's newly reinstated bear hunting season ends. Biggest was 565 pounds.". https://thedailyiberian.com/2024/01/05/animal-activist-starts-petition-to-stop-legalization-of-louisiana-black-bear-hunting/.

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