Kentucky has a rebounding Black Bear population that is estimated at about 500 animals.......State Game Officials have felt that this population could withstand an annual hunting season which commenced in 2009.............If the population estimate is correct, the 20 Bears killed in 2013 will not hurt the growth chances for "Boone State(Daniel) bruins

History and Current Status of the Black Bear in Kentucky

David E. Unger ^1,*, John J. Cox ², Hannah B. Harris ³, Jeffery L. Larkin ⁴, Ben Augustine ², Steven Dobey⁵, Joseph M. Guthrie ², John T. Hast ², Rebekah Jensen ², Sean Murphy ², Jason Plaxico ⁵, and David S. Maehr ^2,6

¹ 502 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Division of Natural Sciences, Maryville College, Maryville, TN 37804.

² Department of Forestry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0073.

³ Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0073.

⁴ Department of Biology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA 15765.

⁵ Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, #1 Sportsman's Lane, Frankfort, KY 40601.

⁶ Deceased.

^* Corresponding author - dave.unger@maryvillecollege.edu.

Abstract

Once abundant in Kentucky, Ursus americanus (American Black Bear) were extirpated from the state by the late 19^th century because of overharvest and habitat alteration. Regenerating deciduous forests, increased human tolerance, and source population growth and expansion in neighboring states have facilitated Black Bear recolonization in parts of southeastern Kentucky since the 1980s. 

As of 2012, 500 Black Bears were estimated to occur in Kentucky, with most individuals found in two successfully reproducing, geographically separate, and genetically distinct core populations in the southeastern part of the state. Our research suggests that population growth and expansion of Black Bears within Kentucky is occurring and abundant suitable habitat exists to support further increases in range and numbers. 

Potential impediments to further population growth and recolonization include roads, overexploitation primarily from illegal harvest, and habitat loss and fragmentation. The recolonization of Kentucky by the Black Bear represents an important case study of population growth and expansion of large mammals in the eastern US that has widespread ecological and economic implications.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.wkyt.com/wymt/home/headlines/Bear-hunting-
season-ends-with-20-bears-killed-239970711.html#.UtXoeXWjpVY.email

Bear hunting season

 ends with

 20 bears killed

Share on emailShare on redditShare on twitterShare on facebook

on 3:07 PM, Jan 13, 2014

• Home
 
• / WYMT
 
• / Headlines List
 
• / Article

Kentucky - State Fish and Wildlife officials say hunters in Kentucky bagged 20 black bears during the season
 that ended in December.

It was the first season with a new expanded bear
 hunting
 zone and an archery and 

crossbow season.

Hunters can now hunt bears in 16 Kentucky
 counties, up
 from four counties in 2012.

Seven were killed in Letcher County and
 three bears were
 taken in Harlan, Leslie, 

and Perry Counties.

Modern-day bear hunting in Kentucky began
 in 2009.