'"Black bears were abundant throughout Missouri during the 18th and 19th centuries"............."However, by the 1890s, they were almost gone from their last stronghold in the Ozarks"............. "Bears were believed extirpated from the state by the 1940s due to unregulated hunting and major losses in forest habitat"................ "Over the past 50 years, black bears have been naturally recolonizing Missouri coming into Missouri from Arkansas"............ "Sightings of adult bears and cubs, nuisance complaints and other incidents involving bears have increased considerably over the past 10-15 years, suggesting that the black bear is increasing in abundance and expanding its range in the state"............Some 300+ bruins are thought to call Missouri home as of the start of 2016

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=http://kcur.org/post/why-missourians-need-start-thinking-about-black-bears&ct=ga&cd=CAEYACoUMTQ0Njk3MDc0NjE5ODc4OTQ4NjIyGjAzMWJmZmM1MjYxMzc1ZGE6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNErk_Wx2DCVCaATfdaRUCUBbxip2A



http://www.fwrc.msstate.edu/carnivore/mo_bear/

Why Missourians Need To Start Thinking About Black Bears

Section of Missouri with confirmed Bear population

Bear den with cubs