Black Bear Population Doubles in a Decade
State bear population grows to 400-500, agency awaits more growth before hunting season recommendation
Mississippi's black bear population in its core range has risen to an estimated 400 to 500 animals, up from a 2012 count of 150 to 250, a state wildlife official told lawmakers Tuesday.
Anthony Ballard, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks' black bear program manager, presented the figures during a joint legislative committee hearing on wildlife and parks on Oct. 14, 2026. "So, for our freshest assessment, now there are from 400 to 500 bears in that red zone that I just showed that there is a significant leap compared to 2012," Ballard said. He told the committee the agency wants to see further population growth before recommending lawmakers authorize a hunting season.
The numbers come as several senators have been pushing to open the protected species to hunting, a decision with direct implications for landowners who report bear damage to feeders and crop losses. The agency has informally set roughly 1,000 bears as a benchmark before recommending a season, giving lawmakers and residents a concrete marker to track as the population continues to grow and the regulatory debate moves forward.