Don’t feed bears. Avoid encounters. React right.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - As blossoms and buds emerge each spring, so do Missouri's estimated 300 native black bears. As they leave their winter dens this time of year, finding food is their main focus. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds people to "Be Bear Aware" by not feeding bears and not providing potential sources of food.
“As black bears become active in the spring, they are on a mission to find food,” said Laura Conlee, a resource scientist and black-bear researcher with MDC. “It is very important for Missourians to recognize potential food attractants in their area. Things such as bird feeders, trash, barbeque grills, and food waste left out at camp sites can all serve as huge attractions for bears. Keeping our areas free of attractants, and letting bears find natural foods is in everyone’s best interest. If you see a bear, enjoy the sighting, let the bear be, and be sure you don’t offer it any food. Most importantly, never intentionally feed them.”
Conlee added feeding bears makes them comfortable around people, which can also make them dangerous.
A FED BEAR IS A DEAD BEAR
"When bears lose their fear of people, they may approach people in search of food or may defend the food sources or territory they associate with people, which can make them dangerous," Conlee said. "When this happens, the bear has to be destroyed. A fed bear is a dead bear."
She added a fed bear that becomes a problem in one place cannot be relocated to another.
“Once a bear learns people can provide food, they will seek out other places such as camp sites, residential areas, and farms in search of food,” she explained. “Bears also have an excellent memory and will often return year after year to places where they were provided food.”
AVOID ATTRACTING BLACK BEARS
MDC offers these tips for avoiding attracting black bears to possible food sources:
Don't leave pet food sitting outside. Feed pets a portion they'll eat at each meal and remove the empty containers.
Store garbage, recyclables, and compost inside a secure building or in a bear-proof container until the day of trash pick-up.
Keep grills and smokers clean and store them inside.
Don't use birdfeeders from April through November in bear country, or hang them at least 10 feet high and 4 feet away from any structure.
Use electric fencing to keep bears away from beehives, chicken coops, vegetable gardens, orchards, and other potential food sources.
Keep campsites clean and store all food, toiletries and trash in a secure vehicle or strung high between two trees. Do not burn or bury garbage or food waste.
AVOID ENCOUNTERS AND REACT RIGHT
While close encounters are uncommon, MDC offers this advice when outdoors in black-bear country:
Make noise while walking or hiking to prevent surprising a bear. Clap, sing, or talk loudly.
Travel in a group if possible.
Pay attention to the surroundings and watch for bear sign, such as tracks or claw or bite marks on trees.
Keep dogs leashed.
Leave a bear alone! Do not approach it. Make sure it has an escape route.
If encountering a bear up close, back away slowly with arms raised to look larger. Speak in a calm, loud voice. Do not turn away from the bear. Back away slowly. Do not run.
A native to Missouri, black bears were abundant until the late 1800s when they were nearly wiped out from unregulated killing and from habitat loss when Ozark forests were logged. MDC research shows that a small number of native black bears survived. Over time, their numbers increased and continue to do so. Results of ongoing black-bear research by MDC staff and others show that the animals have been sighted in about half the counties in Missouri, primarily south of the Missouri River, with most bears located in the southern third of the state in the Missouri Ozarks.
Black bears are a protected species in Missouri. MDC anticipates a limited hunting season as a population-management method once black bear numbers reach a population estimate of about 500 animals. The current estimate is about 300. No details regarding the anticipated future hunting season have been developed.
MDC asks people to report bear sightings by calling 573-522-4115, ext. 3080.
MDC encourages community support at MoNASP state tournament in Branson March 24-25.
Jefferson City, Missouri - About 2,500 student archers from schools around the state will compete at the Missouri National Archery in Schools Program (MoNASP) ninth annual state tournament on March 24-25 at the Branson Convention Center. The public is welcome to attend to support the participants. This year’s tournament will have a gate fee of $7.
MoNASP is coordinated through the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) in partnership with about 600 participating schools and numerous supporting organizations throughout the state. More than 170,000 Missouri students participate in the program. MoNASP is an affiliate of the National Archery in Schools Program (NASP) and promotes education, self-esteem, and physical activity for students in grades 4-12 through participation in the sport of archery.
"Missouri is a great place to hunt and fish, and a great place for shooting sports such as archery," said MDC MoNASP Coordinator Eric Edwards. "MoNASP not only teaches students the lifelong skills that come from archery, but it also helps them excel in the classroom."
More than 12,000 student archers around the state have competed so far this winter in local tournaments with the hope of qualifying for one of the 2,500 spots at the state tournament. Student archers, who shoot qualifying scores at the state tournament, will earn spots at the NASP national tournament this spring in Louisville, Ky.
Shown in the submitted photo: Student archers from around the state will compete in the MoNASP ninth annual state tournament on March 24-25 at the Branson Convention Center.
“My dad and I didn’t really know what type of fish we had in the boat until we got back to the boat ramp,” said Nolan. “We thought it looked like a shad, but really couldn’t believe that it was because of its size.”
Nolan added this fishing trip was only the second time he was out gigging.
“Believe it or not, that shad was the only fish my dad and I got that evening,” he said.
Once MDC gave Nolan confirmation he had a state record, Nolan said he was in shock. “I couldn’t believe it! I never thought anything like this would happen to my dad and me,” he said. “This is an once-in-a-lifetime experience!”
MDC agents verified the gizzard shad’s weight at Valley Park Elevator and Hardware.
Nolan added he plans on having the state-record gizzard shad mounted.
“2017 is shaping up to be a year for state-record fish,” said MDC Fisheries Programs Specialist Andrew Branson. “The mild weather we have had this year means more anglers are fishing, and catching big fish.”
Missouri state-record fish are recognized in two categories: pole-and-line and alternative methods. Alternative methods include: throwlines, trotlines, limb lines, bank lines, jug lines, spearfishing, snagging, snaring, gigging, grabbing, archery, and atlatl.
Missouri - ATTN HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORES! The Missouri Department of Agriculture is offering 30 High School sophomores the opportunity to explore careers in agriculture through the 2017 Missouri Agribusiness Academy.
It is a competitive program for those interested i pursuing agriculture related degrees and careers.
The program will be held June 5th - 9th. Students interested in participating must submit an application by February 1, 2017.
The schedule will be finalized in the spring and will include visits with industry and agribusiness leaders and tours of their facilities.
To be eligible for the Missouri Agribusiness Academy, students must come from a farming family or be an active member of the National FFA Organization or 4-H.
Since 1988, the academy has gradated more than 850 students through a competitive application and interview process.
Applications for the 2017 class are available at agriculture.mo.gov.
Missouri Department of Conservation and MoDOT invite schools to fight litter through "No More Trash!" Annual Can Contest!
Jefferson City, Missouri - The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) invite Missouri public, private, and home-school students in grades K-8 to help fight litter in the Show-Me State -- and to have creative and educational fun -- by participating in the 2017 "Yes You CAN Make Missouri Litter-Free" trash-can-decorating contest. The annual contest is sponsored by MDC and MoDOT as part of the state's "No MOre Trash!" statewide litter campaign.
The contest encourages school classes and groups to join in the fight against litter by decorating and displaying a large trash can with the "No MOre Trash!" logo and a litter-prevention message using a variety of creative media. Schools may submit one entry in each competition category: K-2, 3-5, and 6-8. Entries are judged based on creativity, adherence to contest rules, and effective use of theme and logo.
First-place winners from each competition category receive $200 awarded to the sponsoring schools. All first-place winners are then eligible for a grand prize of a trophy and $600 awarded to the sponsoring school.
There is no entry fee for the contest. Participating school groups must submit a completed entry form online with up to three photos to nomoretrash.org by Friday, March 17. Contest rules, entry forms, logo, past contest entries and winners, and educational information can also be found at nomoretrash.org.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American generates about four pounds of trash each day.
"Missouri's six million residents produce nearly 26 million pounds of garbage in one day. That's more than nine BILLION pounds of trash per year!" said MDC NMT Coordinator Joe Jerek. "Much of that trash shows up on our streets and roadsides, natural areas, and waterways. Litter harms our fish and water quality, plants, and hurts wildlife. Litter also hurts property values, landscape appearance, and our overall quality of life."
Jerek added that littering is illegal in Missouri and can result in a fine of up to $1,000 and one year in jail.
Photo and article Submitted
Shown in the photo: Teacher Gail Forsyth and her students in the Second Grade Recycle Club at East Elementary in Waynesville won the 2016 "No MOre Trash!" trash-can contest with their winning entry, "Box-up your recyclables, Missouri's State Reptile: 3-toed Box Turtle." They won the K-2 Grade Category and also the Grand Prize.
