Scientists Collar Ohio Black Bears as Sightings Hit New High 🐻

Welcome to the Wednesday edition of the newsletter. If you’re still with us, that means you’ve made it to the middle of yet another week.

With that said, let’s all take a minute to grab a coffee or whiskey and get this mid-week dispatch out the door.

Here's what's worth reading about this morning:

ERRBODY LOVES A COMEBACK
SCIENTISTS COLLAR OHIO’S GROWING BLACK BEAR POPULATION AS SIGHTINGS HIT RECORD HIGH

It’s been about 150 years since black bears freely roamed the fields and forests of the Buckeye State. After being wiped out in the mid-1800s, Ohio was generally devoid of black bears (aside from the odd wanderer) up until about ten years ago when sightings began to be more frequent and have since compounded into what state biologists now believe to be a burgeoning resident population.

Just last year, Ohio recorded 537 reported black bear sightings across 69 counties, marking the highest total on record and a noticeably impressive jump from the 370 sightings recorded the year prior. According to biologists, most of these animals appear to be transient males pushing out of neighboring Pennsylvania and West Virginia, but noted that a smaller number of resident females (even some with cubs) are establishing themselves, particularly in the northeast corner of the state…

SAF Announces Settlement in Major California Carry Rights Lawsuit: The settlement follows LASD’s representation that it is now processing concealed carry weapon (CCW) permit applications within the 120-day period required by California law. The case, originally filed to address multiple systemic barriers to the right to carry in California, produced several significant victories along the way. SAF is joined in the case by the California Rifle and Pistol Association, Gun Owners of America, Gun Owners Foundation, Gun Owners of California and several individuals. Read the full story. 

Boone and Crockett Club Partners with UW–Stevens Point to Establish New Endowed Professorship: The Boone and Crockett Club, alongside the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and the UWSP Foundation, has officially established the Stephens Family Foundation Boone and Crockett Wildlife Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point (UWSP). Read the full story.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to Consider 2027 Mountain Lion Season: Staff will recommend expanding the Niobrara Unit and increasing the mountain lion harvest limit while reducing the harvest limits in the Pine Ridge and Wildcat Hills units, as recommended in the June Commission meeting. Read the full story.

Wisconsin DNR Issues an Urgent Warning for Deer Hunters This Fall: The DNR is urging hunters to avoid placing deer stands in or near ash trees while scouting. The reason is a tiny, destructive invader — the emerald ash borer — that has quietly hollowed out much of the state's ash population. Read the full story.

Virginia DWR Urges Eastern Shore Hunters to Prioritize Doe Harvest as Deer Numbers Rise: Virginia wildlife officials are urging hunters to place greater emphasis on harvesting does, warning that growing deer populations on private lands are increasing pressure on forests, farms, residential areas and highways. Read the full story.

Bear found dumped with head and paws cut off; hunter cited by AGFC: Officials with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) say that they found the bear with its head and paws cut off. The person was cited for hunting a bear out of season and wasting edible portions of wildlife. If found guilty, they will receive heavy fines.  Read the full story.

🚚 In Lake Tahoe, the bears are never late for work. Watch as this fella casually saunters up to this work truck (they seem to like those), flings open the door and heads inside.

At first glance, that definitely looked like a dude in a bear suit…

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