Black bears in Louisiana

[Buffalo1]

I think there is a fair number of bears in Louisiana along the Mississippi River. It is not uncommon for the bears to cross the river into Mississippi.

Teddy Roosevelt did his renowned bear hunt just north of Vicksburg at Onward, MS. His guide was Holt Collier, a former slave and courageous Confederate soldier in the Civil War. He was well known for his equestrian skills and pistol shooting. He later became a famous bear guide in Mississippi.

Teddy Roosevelt had close friendship with John McIlhenny (Tobassco Hot Sauce). They bear hunted East Carroll and Madison parishes in northwest LA on and close to the Mississippi River.

Louisiana has an interesting history of bears and bear hunting.

 

[MS Hitman]

I encounter bear occasionally when surveying. Hogs more often, but both are the reason I carry a .45 Colt or larger on my hip these days.

 

[Buffalo1]

Here is a story that occurred this year in MS. The location is Merigold, MS which is approx 25 mi. due east of the Mississippi River in Mississippi Delta.

"She's in the tree, and so is the bear

Mississippians are typically excited when they get an opportunity to see a bear, but this encounter would scare the pants off most folks. Stephanie McGarrh of Merigold said she was hunting from a tree stand one morning in the Delta and things didn't seem quite right.

"There were a couple of hogs beneath the stand and they were acting nervous," McGarrh said. "Then I heard some limbs that were breaking and spooked the hogs."

She heard more activity in the persimmon tree limbs above her and assumed it was coming from raccoons feeding. However, the tree began to sway.

When daylight came, McGarrh realized there was a bear in the tree with her. She began shooting video and at one point the bear quickly came down the tree, growling only inches away from her. The video was frightening and the story was our biggest outdoors story of the year."

"That was the most unnerving part, the growling," McGarrh said. "But he didn't stop by me. That growling sound he made right by me was hair-raising for sure."