Black Bear in Indiana?

[fullauto 45]

DNR says there are NO Black Bear in Indiana. There for there is no season on Black Bears. Who had the trail cam pics of the bears in Brown County?

 

[illmaniac123]

I never heard about anything being on a trailcam in brown county. They had that crazy guy let out all of the exotic animals but they only have a monkey running around now. Call the DNR and see what you can do about them

 

[cobber]

My intel (usually faulty) says black bears were not native to Indiana. If you find one, tell it to go back where it came from. If that fails, well...

 

[Kirk Freeman]

cobber, isn't it true that Abe Lincoln shot a bear in Indiana when he was a kid?

 

[ATOMonkey]

There are many pioneer stories about grizzly and black bears.

Along with every variety of north american animal. Cougars, elk, several variety of deer, bison, wolves, coyote, etc...

Indiana hunters and farmers are so prolific at what they do, that everything big enough to kill with a muzzle loading rifle was dead or chased off by 1850.

 

[nate1865]

In the Indiana State Museum, there is recorded history of black bear in Indiana. You can see it on display of native wildlife.

'Tis a shame we still don't have 'em. I'd prefer black bear to wolves.

 

[Black_Wolf]

Before the draining of the grand kankakee marsh there were many species not here now including Bison.

I have no doubt that black bear either roamed thru Indiana, if not made their home here, despite what their traditional native range might list.

Cougar too.

 

[yotewacker]

There was a black bear hit by a car in Rush County a few years ago. I'm sure there are a few around. But probably they head towards high wooded part of the state. A cougar was seen last fall about this time in Shelby County.

 

[singlestacksig]

Black Bear have been spotted near the Ohio in Indiana.

 

[AGarbers]

The journals of the settlers are very interesting reading. Many years ago I read about a fellow named Moore, the founder of Mooresville, just sw of Indy, used to watch bears play in a nearby meadow. I also read another about another settler that killed and ate a bear near Martinsville. After having made bear stew myself, I can see why.

 

[TSmith]

The locals around where I hunt in Southern IN swear there's black bear and they think they have seen them. I'm not sure but Jack Daniels and Jim Beam may have helped them to see those bears

 

[Expat]

There have been some bears in Eastern KY for at least 30 years so I would be surprised if some of them haven't traveled some.

 

[AGarbers]

The last report I read said black bears may have crossed the Ohio River and be present down in the hills of SE Indiana, but it hasn't been confirmed. It could be that the locals don't want every yahoo down there trying to shoot one.

 

[ffk61]

?

 

[scott delaney]

?

there is a quality post!

 

[dcary7]

there is/has without a doubt been black bear in Indiana. As stated, definitely before Indiana was so "settled", but even still the home range on a bear is quite large, so to assume that NONE ever wander in now a days is naive. There is no current established population of them in IN that is known. Just like the Mountain Lion.. Yes there are some, just not many. If our neighboring states have them, Indiana without a doubt will have them cross into our state lines at some point whether it be permanent or temporary. Are we likely to encounter one in the woods? Not at all, but its not impossible.

 

[96firephoenix]

I'd also like to point out that the DNR denied the existence of cougars in IN for about 5 years after they were spotted.

 

[Yukon227]

The Bears of Blue River....not total fiction kids.

 

[Indyhd]

there is/has without a doubt been black bear in Indiana. As stated, definitely before Indiana was so "settled", but even still the home range on a bear is quite large, so to assume that NONE ever wander in now a days is naive. There is no current established population of them in IN that is known. Just like the Mountain Lion.. Yes there are some, just not many. If our neighboring states have them, Indiana without a doubt will have them cross into our state lines at some point whether it be permanent or temporary. Are we likely to encounter one in the woods? Not at all, but its not impossible.

So what are you saying? They don't heed the "No bears allowed" signs at the state line?

 

[nate1865]

I have a hard time envisioning how they'd cross the Ohio River into Southern Indiana. Seems it'd be a pretty newsworthy event were one spotted crossing a bridge. The Ohio's a big, wide river.

Realm of possibility? Maybe. Probable? No.