Thousands of teddy bears are sold worldwide every year, and, undoubtedly, quite a few of those furry friends will arrive as gifts this holiday season.
The inspiration for the treasured toy came from President Teddy Roosevelt’s 1902 visit to Mississippi.
One of 18 native North American species, the Louisiana black bear roamed Louisiana, eastern Texas, southern Arkansas and western Mississippi.
After an unsuccessful hunting expedition, one of Roosevelt’s assistants tied a Louisiana black bear to a willow tree. The president’s subsequent refusal to shoot the tethered bear made national headlines. The publicity inspired Brooklyn toymaker to create a stuffed bear dedicated to the president who saved the animal’s life.
The popularity of the stuffed version hasn’t always been enough to guarantee the survival of the species. Not long ago, black bears were nearly extinct.
Gradually, habitat loss and overhunting reduced and fragmented the population. When the Louisiana black bear was first listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1992, it was estimated fewer than 300 were left in the world.
Since then, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and similar agencies in other states launched aggressive monitoring and conservation efforts to save the bear.
Since receiving the endangered listing 23 years ago, the Louisiana black bear population has grown as a result of state and federal protection of the bears, a reintroduction project and habitat recovery aided by the Federal Conservation Reserve Program and the Federal Wetlands Reserve Program.
LDWF Large Carnivore Program Manager Maria Davidson estimates there are now between 500 and 750 black bears in Louisiana alone.
In early December 2014, U. S. Geological Survey study confirmed the Louisiana black bear is likely to survive at least another century. In fact, the species’ odds of extinction are less than 1%. LDWF has petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to consider delisting—removing—the bear from the threatened species list.
That would seem to be good news. However, with removal of those protections, 32 of the 41 states that are home to black bears allow hunting.
This past October—a little more than three years after being removed from the endangered species list—the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission authorized the first bear hunt since 1972.
“The purpose of the hunt is to stabilize growing bear populations,” according to the FFWCC website. “Bear hunting is one of several integrated actions aimed at managing and conserving bears in Florida. While hunting alone is not likely to significantly reduce current human-bear conflicts in urban and suburban areas, it is a proven measure for managing bear populations. Due to a bear’s large range, hunting can remove some individual bears that may be causing conflicts with people. Additionally, hunting can relieve pressure of increasing and expanding bear populations in certain areas, helping to reduce the number of new bears entering suburban and urban areas.”
The hunt proved a very effective tool to quickly reduce the population. As the licensed hunters quickly harvested 295 bears and approached the 320 limit, state officials curtailed the event from 7 days to 2 days.
Even though LDWF has applied to have the black bear delisted, the USFWS makes the final determination. “[The Geological study] has to be peer-reviewed by USFSW experts across the United States, and there has to be a comment period from the public,” LDWF Secretary Robert Barham says. “[USFWS] is in that process now.” There is no timeline for that decision to be rendered.
In anticipation of delisting, the USFWS has collaborated with LDWF to forge a post-delisting monitoring plan. For other wildlife, those plans last typically five years. But, because bears are so slow to reproduce, the LDWF created a seven-year plan.
“That [plan] requires the state and the federal agency to monitor the threat that caused the listing in the first place,” Davidson says. “LDWF [will] monitor the population itself. We do that with the same techniques we used to gather the original information.”
To determine reproduction and survival, LDWF biologists engage in live capture, hair snare and cub counting. Since LDWF has data that extends back to 2006, the agency can monitor trends and adjust strategy accordingly.
“We want to know we have a population that is sustainable. We want to know that we have monitoring methods in place, so that future management decisions can be based on sound science,” Davidson says.
As to whether a hunt might be in the state’s future, “Any discussion about hunting as it relates to Louisiana is just pure speculation about an unknown circumstance,” Barham says. “Our goal is to get the bear off the [threatened species] list and to be sure we have a healthy, viable population that is going to be here 100 years from now.”
There have been published reports Barham would like to see bears hunted during his tenure. With the upcoming change in administration this January, that scenario seems unlikely. Still, he flatly refutes that allegation. “My focus is to get that animal delisted—it’s always been that,” he says. “Folks have asked: Do I want to hunt a bear? Absolutely not. I have never said I did.
“I want that bear delisted because it will be another feather in the cap of this wonderful department that has done magnificent work in getting endangered and threatened species off the list [including] the brown pelican, alligator, bald eagle and the work we are doing with the whooping crane…. Louisiana should be so proud of the unbelievable work of these [LDWF] biologists.”
More than a century ago, Roosevelt may have saved a single black bear and brought the animal into the international consciousness. Hopefully, with continued success, LDWF’s biologists’ efforts will assure sightings of black bears will never be relegated exclusively to toyshops.
That’s a story Louisianans can be proud to tell their children for generations to come.
For more information, visit Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ website.
Phillip was trapped with a feral colony who was being spayed/neutered and released back to its environment. However, when his mom didn’t return to care for him, this tiny tabby was placed in a Cat Haven foster home to be bottle-raised. Phillip is sweet and playful and does well with kids, other cats and small dogs.
Lucky is a gentle, independent girl. This 1-year-old Ragdoll mix has not been around dogs or other cats.
Princess is a beautiful girl who was adopted as a young kitty and recently returned because her owner is dying. This 7-year-old, medium-coated beauty is an affectionate girl who is still quite playful. She tolerates dogs but is slow to warm up to other cats. Princess is intimidated by young children, but she is very fond of teenagers.
Jagger’s stray mom hid her kittens in some insulation under a house. Once the homeowner found the little family, she brought them to Cat Haven. This 9-month-old male tuxedo gets along with older children and other kitties. He has never been around dogs.
Celestia was adopted as a kitten and returned when her owner moved. This 1-year-old medium-coated calico is active, playful and enjoys attention. She gets along well with children, dogs and other cats.
Peeta came from a home with too many animals and he did not receive proper care. Despite his background, the Maine Coon mix is a sweet boy who needs extra love. This 3-month-old would prefer a home with older children and gets along well with other cats.
These pets have all been vaccinated, spayed/neutered and FeLeuk/FIV tested. Many other adoptable cats and kittens are available at Cat Haven, or call the shelter to make an appointment at 636-2680.
