Black Bear sighting in Caldwell Parish

After several black bear sightings in the Caldwell Parish area recently, The Caldwell Watchman would like to keep residents informed on what do to in case you have an encounter with a bear.
Louisiana black bears usually are non-aggressive, retreating animals that are harmless to people unless provoked or threatened. Humans and bears can coexist successfully if humans modify or curtail behaviors that promote conflicts, and solutions are available for inevitable human-bear conflicts.
Nuisance Bear Prevention tips are listed below:
• DO NOT overfill garbage container
• Clean garbage can inside and out with either bleach or ammonia regularly
• Store garbage can in secure shed or garage if possible
• The use of “C” clamps or ratchet straps to fasten the garbage can lid will help deter a bear from getting into the can
• Rinse throw away items like soft drink cans, canned good cans, ketchup bottles and like items before discarding in trash
• Double bag all garbage, especially disposable diapers
• Keep food scraps in one garbage bag, separate from regular garbage so it may be put out the day of garbage pick-up to reduce smelly items in outdoor garbage can
• Keep BBQ pits clean
• REMOVE bird feeders, squirrel feeders and other type of “critter” feeder from your yard
• NEVER leave any type of pet food out over night
• NEVER put food scraps out for wildlife
• Cut brush and tall grasses near and around your home - bears like to travel “under cover”
• Position and use motion sensitive lighting around your home
• Air horns, bear/pepper spray, loud banging noises, vehicle horn, and other ways of making loud noises will help scare away a bear
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed on May 20, 2015, removal of the Louisiana black bear from Endangered Species Act (ESA) protection due to its recovery.  At the same time, it also released a draft post-delisting monitoring plan.  The proposed delisting follows a comprehensive review by the Service of the best available scientific and commercial information concerning the bear’s status, as required by the ESA.
When the Louisiana black bear was listed in 1992 because of habitat loss and other threats, the three known breeding subpopulations were confined to the bottomland hardwood forests of Louisiana in the Tensas, Upper and Lower Atchafalaya Rivers Basins.  Today, those original subpopulations have all increased in number and have stable to increasing growth rates.  A fourth breeding subpopulation in Louisiana, located between the Tensas and Upper Atchafalaya subpopulations, is facilitating movement among the other two subpopulations.  This has substantially increased the long-term outlook for the Louisiana black bear.  
The Louisiana Black Bear is a State and Federally protected species. Harming Black Bear is a violation of State and Federal laws and carries severe penalties, both civil and criminal.
If you come in contact with a Black Bear or would like to report a nuisance bear, please call 225-265-2441.

For more Caldwell Parish news, go to www.caldwellwatchman.com