Arkansas bear survey needs eyes in the field

LITTLE ROCK —The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission needs the public’s help to determine the number and locations of black bears in bear zones 3 and 4 in southern Arkansas.

“We are soliciting public input from people who have photographs of black bears in those two zones,” said Myron Means, coordinator of the AGFC’s bear program.

Zones 3 and 4 include all of Grant, Cleveland, Dallas, Nevada, Ouachita, Calhoun, Bradley, Drew, Ashley, Union, Columbia, Lafayette, Hempstead, Little River and Miller counties, as well as parts of Pulaski, Saline, Hot Spring, Clark, Pike, Howard, Sevier, Jefferson, Lincoln, Chicot and Desha counties.

“The AGFC needs photographs and GPS location information to assess abundance and distribution of the bear population in this part of the state,” Means said. “Most of the land in this part of Arkansas is privately owned, so the AGFC does not have a large land base to conduct surveys for an accurate estimate of the population. We need documentable evidence and locations for sightings within the last year.”

Means said the AGFC is trying to determine if the population’s abundance and distribution have potential for hunting opportunities.

People with photographs and associated GPS information taken within the last year are asked to send the items to Means at myron. means@agfc.ar.gov by Nov. 30.