st
Meeting was called to order at 1:15 p.m. by Kevin Nelms, BEaR President. Attendees included:
Kevin Nelms, Becky Rosamond, Jason Ross, James Austin, Brent Bowman, Mariela Gantchoff,
Richard Rummel, Carson Nelson, Chris Seals, Ray Aycock, Brad Young, Glynda Clardy, Paul
Davidson, Meg Cooper, Shaun Williamson missed the meeting, but was there in spirit
I.
MSU Research Update – Brent Bowman, Research Associate, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Mississippi State University
A.
Den checks
1.
Females a.
LL 1 male cub (had cubs last year – mortality) b.
DD 2 male cubs (had cubs last year – mortality) c.
HH 2 male, 1 female cubs d.
PP no cubs, 2-year old male cub still hanging around e.
UU 1 male, 1 female cub (Excavated den in bank – about 6 feet in) f.
ZZ 1 cub – could not catch, trail cam photo g.
MM no cubs, no longer collared h.
VV 1 yearling seen i.
NN 2 yearlings j.
WW assume 3 yearlings (saw 1) k.
EE assume 2 yearlings (saw 1)
2.
Males
1.
XX located
2.
CCC not located
3.
BBB not located
4.
AAA not located
B.
Outreach a.
Delta Magazine – Hank Burdine, “Teddy’s Return” b.
Updated website with photos from Joe Mac Hudspeth c.
Wildlife Techniques Course
C.
Upcoming a.
North and South delta trapping – same data collection i.
More sites in Rosedale area ii.
Looking for more sites in south delta b.
Christine Hoskinson – serology sampling – M.S. Univ. Tennessee with blood samples c.
Flight for males in north delta study area – probably not going to continue to collar males d.
Possible issue – due to drug used to anesthetize bear, may be good idea to put warning on ear tag, in case they get shot during a hunt in Arkansas within 30 days of receiving the chemical
II.
Multi-Scale Habitat Selection for a Solitary Carnivore, American Black Bear - Mariela
Gantchoff, Doctoral Candidate, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, MSU
A.
Ch. 1 – Habitat Suitability for bear recolonizing MS a.
Colonization process usually attributed to males – this will focus on females b.
Eastward expansion c.
Dispersion paths unknown

d.
Objectives i.
Identify habitat corridors for black bears – modeling habitat connectivity – will identify bottlenecks ii.
Analyze potential mechanisms
B.
Ch. 2 – Home range influencers a.
Objectives i.
Are home ranges in the most reasonable areas ii.
Size of home ranges iii.
Are the affected by intrinsic and extrinsic factors
C.
Ch. 3 – Den site selection a.
Objective i.
explore the behavioral process of den-site selection in black bears within their home ranges
D.
Study sites will include high density populations (15 – 20 bears/km 2 , Michigan), medium density (2 – 3 bears/km
2
, Missouri), and low density populations (<1 bear/km
2
, Mississippi)
III.
Auburn University Bear Research Project – Chris Seals, Graduate Student, School of
Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University
A.
Size and genetic structure of black bear populations in Alabama
B.
Currently, main population in Mobile area (SW population) with secondary population in northeast Alabama (Little River Canyon)
1.
Alabama in denial so had to prove presence of bear first, also mistaken belief that they are protected and government will take land if bear are on it
– public education important
2.
Pilot in 2011 and 2012 a.
Ecodogs – fine scale – SW population
1.
2011 – 95 bear scats
2.
2012 – 138 bear scats b.
Hair snares and game cams – NE population (2012 only)
1.
47 sampling stations photos and hairsnares – Ft. Payne area
2.
Photos of bears at 8 stations
3.
202 hair samples at 15 sampling stations
3.
Pilot - 2013 – large scale sampling – hair snares and game cams in both populations a.
Mobile County – 30 hair stations i. 30 samples from 5 cells ii. 15 scats from 8 cells b.
NE Alabama – 39 hair stations i.
77 samples from 12 cells ii.
8 scat samples from 2 cells
4.
Expanded in 2014/15 – to all of Baldwin county
5.
2015 – GPS monitoring a. 3 females collared in Mobile area to date
6.
Results – DNA Analysis
1.
Mobile area i.
Two populations in Mobile area (Washington County and Mobile
County) – no indication of movement between (30 miles) ii.
271 samples collected from Mobile area – 30 females, 14 males, 1 unknown iii.
One of least diverse populations in the southeast, suggests that there is little mixing with Mississippi – but know bear have crossed from MS – male was caught and collared along Hwy in
Meridian.

b.
Northeast population i.
294 samples – 161 successfully genotyped ii.
10 females, 5 males
C.
Future research
1.
Sample over wider area
2.
Hierarchical sampling – cells with evidence of bears receive more hair snares
3.
Analysis of DNA a.
Connectivity b.
Inbreeding
4.
Micro-scale habitat use a. Importance of food plots, agriculture, bait stations b. GPS telemetry collars
5.
Public perceptions of bear
IV.
MDWFP Bear Updates and Eastern Black Bear Workshop Review – Richard Rummel,
Exotic Species Program Leader, Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and
Parks
A.
99 registrants, 28 states and 3 Canadian Provinces
B.
Talks focused on aggressive behavior in black bear, also conflict management
C.
Panel discussion after each session
D.
Sessions
1.
Larry Lewis – Alaska Game and Fish – using Tasers for immobilization of wildlife
2.
Dr. Stephen Herrero – authority – spoke on bear attacks
3.
Dr. Marc Cattet – Wildlife vet, talk on field anesthesia of bears
4.
Mike Orlando – Humane field euthanasia of black bear – Florida (public situation – can’t use gun)
5.
Jim Tipton – den cameras
6.
Adam Hammond – Scoring Bear Skulls Overview (Boone and Crockett)
E.
Overall good reviews – “one of best there has been”
F.
Education material from other states – South Carolina has door hanger “black bear has been spotted in your area….” may be something good for Mississippi to have to let landowners know. State planning to develop and make available
G.
Other update – bear position w/state closed on May 18, nothing yet received from state personnel board (4 th
time advertised, first two times personnel dept. snafu)
V.
Black Bear Priority Zone Update – James Austin, Private Lands Biologist, USFWS
A.
Revisited several months ago – originally developed in 2005 – used to rank
WRP/WRE/EQUIP/CRP by NRCS
B.
New version a.
Eliminated zones (single bear zone for state – previous zones based on potential corridors) b.
Expanded to connect areas and to include additional areas i.
Based on MDWFP sightings and collaring data ii.
Also looked at large blocks of public lands c.
Used watershed boundaries
VI.
BBCC Report – Paul Davidson, BBCC Executive Director
A.
New bear management handbook – 4 th
edition a.
New section describing bear behavior – Info on aggressive behavior in bear
– signs of aggression and appropriate responses b.
Removed info on conservation programs available and just provide contact information c.
www.bbcc.org
– available for download

B.
USFWS and LDWF jointly announced initial steps to delist black bear yesterday
(5/20/2015) a.
60 day comment period b.
2 public meetings in LA c.
Post-delisting monitoring plan should be available soon d.
Good press for BBCC e.
Secretary of LDWF several years ago announced that his intent was to delist species before he was out of office.
C.
Dealing with nuisance bear – information from N.C. and FL indicates that using dogs for hazing can reduce or eliminate nuisance bear problems.
VII.
Great Delta Bear Affair Project Update – Meg Cooper, GDBA Coordinator and
Director, Lower Delta Partnership
A.
Successful event
B.
Outreach – Blair E. Bateson and local nursing home – 185 teddy bears delivered
C.
Education – 4 th
grade – 10 schools – 432 students a.
Every teacher got 2 bear posters for classroom b.
Several presenters c.
Poster and essay contest – participation was increased over previous years.
D.
Teddy bear color run – 115 participants this year
E.
6,500 participants
F.
4 th
Saturday in October – October 24, 2015 – a.
New event - Chuck Burger eating contest b.
Continue color run c.
Good musical line-up d.
Education day e.
Bears to hospital again
VIII.
Administrative o Approval of previous minutes and membership report – Becky Rosamond,
BEaR Secretary and USFWS Refuge Biologist –

Brad moved, Jason second - approved o Financial report – Stephanie Hodnett, CPA and BEaR Treasurer
$10,166 – about $1200 left from KYT campaign
IX.
Project Progress o “Know Your Target” Campaign - Connie Dickard, Public Affairs Specialist,
USFWS

Deer Creek Pilot (Rolling Fork Newspaper) o Ran KYT story on front page and ½ page ad in November

Plan to use additional funds to advertise in Outdoor Digest (350,000 distribution) – will close out account o Elementary Education Initiative – Becky read update from Deb

Currently one reading lesson and one mapping activity developed o Assistance provided by educators at Ole Miss and
Mississippi State o Plan to distribute this summer for use next year o Plan to do another lesson focused more on MS bear ecology

Kudos to Deb – impressive with what’s been accomplished

Outreach – still doing programs by request (mostly Kevin)
X.
Old Business – Kevin Nelms

Action items from previous BEaR meeting

Jason – QDMA – will follow up


Kris – thermal image of hog and bear – not done yet, will try to get with Carson and have him set up on Hunter’s property to take image – use bait site or collared bear. Carson will touch base with Kris

Becky – passing along list of Board of Directors to Stephanie today

Vice President vacancy
XI.
New Business – Kevin Nelms

Administration Project $500 o Webhosting - $130 o Postage o Secretary of State $50 – charitable organization o Misc/buffer o Jason moved, Meg second passed

Website Rebuild o Website outdated to point can’t be updated – needs to be totally rebuilt o Priorities: Ease of access for updating, ability to receive bear sightings, receive membership payments/sell merchandise, links to other agency o Quotes
 Natalie Perkins – no quote, they do more updating and webmaster stuff

DSU – Nathaniel Hime – more complex and not as creative as student projects usually are

Kathy Jacobs – sent proposals

Option 1 – template – current info put into template and we update as needed $2,000

Option 2 – custom design – she designs layout and we just provide input $6,499 – much more creative and we would be put on a timeline for providing information

Both options are “responsive website” – adjusts to whatever platform is accessing it (e.g., phone, tablet, laptop, etc.) (both options responsive)

Both use WordPress, search engine and user friendly

Would have to change hosting company – swap to “godaddy” which is free (just $85 for domain)

She would maintain for first year – maintenance really not an issue (just problem resolution). Just make sure to backup website every 6 months on external hard drive. (Her fee would be $110/hr for maintenance – usually no more than 1 hour/yr)

Lauren Fordice

Similar proposals, but

$5,000 for Option 2, but would have to host for $350/yr plus
$250/yr maintenance. o Discussion

Investment

Meg has used for LDP and is very impressed with her site

Deadlines created by Kathy may motivate us to gather and send info

Jason suggested sending email with different options to email list to get feedback from other members – however, only paid members get vote on projects. All paid members present at meeting

Brad motions using Kathy Jacobs’ option 2, Becky seconded, passed.
 Teleconference with Kathy – Kevin, Becky, Meg

Next Meeting: October 8 (tentative) at Cleveland, USDA service center
Meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.