Black Bear Regularly Spotted in West Texas: What You Need to Know

There have been multiple reports of a black bear wandering counties in West Texas, and officials have warned citizens of the elusive animal and how to stay safe during an encounter.

Un-BEAR-able Texas Wildlife Spotting

Thanks to the professionals with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), we have been able to track the whereabouts of the black bear near Midland County.

It's believed that the young bear is making its way through neighborhoods looking for food, other bears, or to find a permanent territory. Whatever the reason, TPWD assured everyone that this youngster should leave the area quickly after it finds no reason to stay.

Texas Black Bear Facts

TPWD also provided some facts about black bears and tips on avoiding any unnecessary encounters.

First, did you know that black bears are protected by law? Killing these creatures could result in a $10,000 fine, a loss of hunting licenses, and even jail time.

Aside from the legal reasons to leave them alone, black bears can weigh up to 350 pounds! They are also classified as opportunistic feeders, meaning they'll pretty much eat anything they can get their paws on: trash, vegetables, berries, even insects like beetles, wasps, and ants.

Texas Black Bear Survival Facts

Black bear attacks, although rare, do happen. The first step in avoiding these dangerous encounters is to prevent their interest in you from the beginning.

This can be done through keeping your campsite clean and avoiding open feeders in your backyard inside known bear areas.

The best way to attract deer but avoid black bears on your property is to either switch bait from corn to soybeans, or planting food plots rather than open feeders, according to TPWD.

If You Encounter a Wild Black Bear...

Never approach! Bears typically choose to avoid humans and will shy away, but there are some things you can do to encourage it to attack. First off, don't make eye contact while you slowly back away.

It's important not to run, this can trigger their instinct to chase their prey. If a bear walks up to you, however, raise your arms and stand your ground. Yell at it to scare it off.

If a bear attacks you, grab anything you can use as a weapon and fight like your life depends on it, because it probably does. Always remember that playing dead is never an option, this just invites further attacks.