Black Bears in Louisiana and Mississippi seem to be dealing effectively with the recent surge in floodwaters .........As we know, they are strong swimmers and tree climbers, both of these skills being employed as they have for millenia to escape Natures wrath along the banks of the Mississippi River............Some cubs might have been lost to the waters rising so quickly...........time will tell their fate

Flooding stressing wildlife, but bears appear to be OK

State wildlife officials say the flooding along the Mississippi River will continue to stress wildlife in affected areas for weeks to come.

The good news is that for one of the most threatened species, the black bear, the rising waters haven't pushed too many from their habitat. Only a few reports of bears making public appearances have circulated. Flights conducted last week by Mississippi State University located 12 bears with radio collars in flooded portions of the Delta. All of the collared bears' locations were within their normal home ranges and all were in heavily flooded areas.
In fact, four radio-collared female bears in Bolivar County were actually located inside the Mississippi River levee. "Black bears are excellent swimmers, climbers and foragers," said Brad Young, black bear program leader for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. "Black bears thrived throughout the Delta long before the time of river gauges and levee systems. They are well suited for events such as this."
One concern for bears is the survival of cubs. Although they become able swimmers and climbers early in life, there is an uncertainty about the flooding."We know that several dens were flooded out and the females were forced to evacuate while the cubs were still very young," says Young. "We won't know until water levels recede enough for us to go in and check on them."
Concerns over deer and other animals driven from their habitat to levees and other dry areas continue.
Officials urge people to leave animals alone, except for one species considered a nuisance.flooding is providing an excellent opportunity to rid areas of some of the wild hogs that have spread throughout the Delta area. It is perfectly legal to shoot feral hogs but on private lands only.Shooters should be careful to clearly identify the target, since a few bears could be in the area.
The wildlife division of the MDWFP has established an FAQ - frequently asked questions page - on its website addressing many flood-related issues such as feeding deer. It can be found at mdwfp.com