BEaR Group of Mississippi
October 16, 2014 Meeting – 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Valley Park Plantation and Lodge
Valley Park, MS

Welcome and Call to Order – Kevin Nelms, BEaR President
o Meeting was called to order at 1:07 p.m. by Kevin Nelms
o Site visit 10 a.m. to 12 noon – tour of Valley Park Plantation, led by Hunter
Fordice (owner and meeting host)
o Attendees: Kevin Nelms, Becky Rosamond, Stephanie Hodnett (meeting only),
James Austin, Brent Bowman, Glynda Clardy, Meg Cooper (meeting only), Paul
Davidson, Connie Dickard, Hunter Fordice, Sally Fordice, Kris Godwin, Jason
Ross, Richard Rummel, Cathy Shropshire, Roger Tankesly, Shelton Whittington,
Shaun Williamson, Brad Young, David Soileau (site visit only), Debbie Fuller
(site visit only)

Mississippi Black Bear Project Update (July 2013 – Present) – Brent Bowman
o Summer 2013 – trapping in North Delta study area
Date
Bear ID
Sex
Age
Weight
(lbs.)
Weight
(kgs.)
Collar
Type
Capture
7-Jul
TT
M
Subadult
160
72
VHF
R1*
17-Jul
NN
F
Adult
175
79
GPS
R2
28-Jul
XX
F
Subadult
90
41
VHF
R1
6-Jul
EE
F
Adult
175
79
GPS
R2
5-Jul
SS
F
Subadult
95
43
VHF
R1
1-Jul
DD
F
Adult
145
66
GPS
R2
24-Jul
HH
F
Adult
125
57
GPS
R2
23-Jul
WW
F
Adult
105
48
VHF
N
18-Jul
VV
F
Adult
110
50
VHF
N
10-Jul
UU
F
Adult
75
34
VHF
R1
*R1 – PIT tagged as cubs; R2 – recollared; N – new bears
o Spring 2014 Den Checks
 South Delta
Date
Bear Sex Age
Collar
ID
Type
Mar. 8 LL
F
Adult VHF
Mar. 8 MM F
Adult VHF
Mar. 9
Mar 9
Date
Mar. 10
Mar. 10
Mar. 10
Mar. 11
Mar. 11
Mar. 12
Mar. 12
Mar. 13
Mar. 13
Mar. 14
Mar. 14
Comments
2 male cubs
Steel Bayou in briar thicket, no cubs seen (was
not darted)
New bear
1 female cub
YY
M
Adult VHF
S-19 F
Adult GPS
 North Delta
Bear Sex Age
Collar Comments
ID
Type
SS
F
Subadult VHF
TT
M
Subadult VHF Abandoned den when approached
XX M
Subadult VHF
VV F
Adult
VHF 1 female cub; when adult captured in
summer, had paracord wrapped around leg.
Treated. Had healed, though leg
permanently injured.
UU F
Subadult VHF
WW F
Adult
GPS
3 female cubs
NN F
Adult
GPS
1 male and 1 female cub
DD F
Adult
GPS
1 female cub
EE
F
Adult
GPS
1 male and 1 female cub
HH F
Adult
GPS
1 male and 1 female yearling
PP
F
Adult
GPS
1 male yearling
 Total 12 cubs; 9 Bolivar County, 3 Issaquena
o North delta trapping – Summer 2014
Date
Bear ID
Sex
Age
Weight
(lbs.)
Weight
(kgs.)
Collar
Type
Capture
10-Jul
XX
M
Adult
140
64
VHF
R2
11- Jul
ZZ
F
Adult
121
55
GPS
R1
13-Jul
AAA
M
Adult
139
63
VHF
N
17-Jul
BBB
M
Adult
137
62
VHF
N
18-Jul
CCC
M
Adult
198
90
VHF
N
26-Jul
DDD
M
Subadult
72
33
NA
R1 – cub
of HH
27-Jul
EEE
F
Subadult
68
31
NA
R1 – cub
of HH
*R1 – PIT tagged as cubs; R2 – recollared; N – new bears
o Current Status (July 2014 flight) – 13 females, 6 males
Bear #
Sex
Location
Comments
VV
WW
NN
DD
EE
TT
SS
UU
PP
XX
ZZ
CCC
BBB
AAA
HH
S19
F
F
F
F
F
M
F
F
F
M
F
M
M
M
F
F
Bolivar
Bolivar
Bolivar
Bolivar
Bolivar
Bolivar
Bolivar
Bolivar
Bolivar
Bolivar
Bolivar
Bolivar
Bolivar
Bolivar
Bolivar
Issaquena/Sharkey
Merigold HC
Merigold HC
Merigold HC
Donaldson Point HC
Donaldson Point HC
Donaldson Point HC
Donaldson Point HC
Donaldson Point HC
Merigold HC
Donaldson Point HC
Donaldson Point HC
Donaldson Point HC
Merigold HC
Merigold HC
Merigold HC
Bucktail HC- Rob Neblett
YY
M
Issaquena/Sharkey
Bucktail HC- Rob Neblett
LL
F
Issaquena/Sharkey
ATCO
MM
F
Issaquena/Sharkey
Steele Bayou HC
o Other projects
 Began joint effort with Birmingham Zoo – Christine Hoskinson –
checking for diseases (2013)
 Sent hair samples toWildlife Genetics International in British Columbia
for genotype analysis (66 samples) – Cooperative research between MSU
and UT Knoxville. (2013)
 Pilot camera survey in Bolivar County (started 2013).
 Set out cameras and baited site with fish oil lures
 Included seven hunt clubs from the ’27 levee break north to
Frances Landing.
 Left for a year. Landowners didn’t maintain lures, so not many
pictures of bears
 Project with MSU and USFWS
 Austin James - USFWS
o Using 11 adult females and 27,934 locations, constructed
occupied range map
o Part of recovery process (even though not part of recovery
population)


o Outreach
 MS Master Naturalist Course (July 2013)
 Article in Cleveland Current “The MS Black Bear Project, studying a
majestic creature” (August 2013)
 Human-Wildlife Conflicts Techniques course (October 2013) for Kris
Godwin
 Delta Business Journal article on bear population (May 2014)
 Carnivore Ecology Lab – MS Black bear Project website (August 2014)
 NRCS Soil and Water Conservation Field Day – Choctaw Lake
(September 2014)
o New student (PhD) – Mariela Gantchoff (from Argentina)
 Research on black bear ecology, conservation, and management in the MS
Delta as well as the recolonization of black bear in MS
BBCC Report – Paul Davidson
o University Tennessee – Jared Laufenberg and Joseph Clark
 Genetic study 556 samples (from hair snares) –Provided evidence of
genetic flow between 2 populations – necessary criteria for delisting.
(Male bears are mechanism of flow)
 Bolivar County bears are coming from White River
 So. Delta bear coming over from Tensas
o Big push by LA to have a bear hunt in next year (driven by political pressure)
o Suggestion is to work on a 3-year time frame to delist (try to prevent special
interest groups from suing over the delisting).
o Estimate >500 bears in the target populations for delisting
o Still doing education and treeplanting
o Several grants from Walton foundation
Great Delta Bear Affair Project Update – Meg Cooper
o Saturday, October 25, 2014 – “Muddy turns 100. This Bears celebrating”
o Outreach
 Teddy Bears for Kids at Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital (Case Hicks)
 Partner with Sharkey/Issaquena Beta Club – get sponsors to pay for bears
 150 bears given out
o Education
 Friday – 4th graders, 430 scheduled to come
 Use volunteers from So. Delta H.S. and Sharkey Issaquena Academy
 Case Hicks, Terry Vandeventer, Education stations (4), fed burgers, music
by the “Blues Rangers”
o Music, Fun and Chainsaw
 Friday Night – Patrons’ Party and Silent Auction ($25/ticket)
 Teddy Bear Color Run – 5K Run
 Dayton Scoggins – Chainsaw Artist
 Vendors (sold out for 2 weeks)
 Sam Brookes Indian Mound Tours
 Children’s Games
 Magician
 Terry Vandeventer



Musical Entertainment – all day (9 a.m. – 8 p.m.)
 Eden Brent headliner
 Mr. Sipp (Blues)
 The Grayhounds
 Yazoo Gold
 Bruce Daigrepont
 HanaLena
 Tim Johnson as Elvis
o Benefits
 Most folks in area now know story of Teddy Bear
 More community pride
 Better acceptance of bears in south Delta, Rolling Fork has embraced bear
heritage
 Now tour of carved bear in Rolling Fork
 Post-Festival Donations made to local organizations (including BEaR)
“Know Your Target” Education Project Update – Connie Dickard
o Goal – Bear-Hog education tool – using fine money
o Originally looked at doing a postcard, based off Louisiana sign
o Rollout time – Hunting Season 2014
o Budget - $5000 – Restitution Award
o Education Committee – Deb Waz, Stephanie Steele, Connie Dickard, Brad
Young, Richard Rummel, Becky Rosamond, Kevin Nelms, assistance from
Natalie Perkins
o Question – how to distribute – developed postcards (2,000) – passed out at
Extravaganza (August) and sent to DMAP Clubs, will also have at GDBA
 Determined needed additional outreach – ads and billboards
 Put in Outdoor Digest, Delta Wildlife (2 issues), Mississippi
Wildlife, Mississippi Outdoors
 Billboards – Rolling Fork, Rosedale, Port Gibson
 Signs – Richard modified Louisiana’s and got the State to print.
Shared costs with BEaR. Posted at WMAs, Refuges, and National
Forests. Some private land as well. 500 total. Card stock signs
provided to Hunter Education Instructors (300).
 Article – Newspaper (not yet published)
 Recent Articles – re: 3 men involved in bear shooting – Clarion
Ledger; roaming bear in Meridian Star; both went on to talk about
“Know Your Target” Campaign
o Still some funds left and will be additional restitution funds from 3 men in
Meridian that shot bear. Will include full mount of bear walking given to the
BEaR group.
o Suggestion (from Jason Ross) – contact QDMA (Quality Deer Management
Association) regarding a generic (i.e., not state-specific) KYT poster.
MDWFP – Richard Rummel – Updates
o April 26 – 29, 2015 – MDWFP and MSU co-hosting 22nd Eastern Black Bear
Workshop at Lake Tiak O’Khata in Louisville. Discuss black bear management


in eastern U.S. See website www.easternblackbear.org for additional information.
(In process of being developed.)
o Illegal bear kill, Lauderdale County in January. Indicted in August, Trial set for
October 20th. BEaR had agreed to put up money for reward (not needed).
o Bear hit by vehicle, May 26, 2014. 168 lbs. male. Hwy 80, east of Newton. Bear
appeared healthy, no indication of foul play.
o Reported sightings and nuisance complaints, coastal counties have slowed down
this year. Not sure why – possibly people are becoming more accustomed and
better able to deal.
o Reported sightings increased over last year in east-central counties (Lauderdale,
Newton, Clarke, Kemper, Neshoba). May be coming over from Alabama –
Auburn beginning study looking at Alabama’s increasing bear population (funded
by state game and fish AL) – Dr. Todd Steury.
o Large Carnivore Working Group Meeting – SEAFWA – Develop and implement
regional initiative for standard educational content (BearWise) – goal to get all
parties doing education to pass on the same information re: dealing with bears.
Also worked on MOU among SEAFWA states regarding respecting other states’
management decision on when to euthanize bear (i.e. in case of
unreleasable/orphaned bear.)
o Attended Bear Attack Response Training workshop. Covered everything from
media relations, victim’s family, investigating attack, etc. Included field
scenarios.
o Recent research (same mentioned by Paul) Laufenberg and Clark shows LA
Black Bear pops are meeting criteria for delisting with exception of protected
corridors (much is private lands).
Administrative
o Minutes of previous meeting approved (Paul motioned, Kris seconded)
o Currently 13 paid members.
o Financial report: Current balance $9,707.05 (includes $1,982.89 remaining on
KYT campaign)
 Now current on 501c3
Project progress
o Web site
 Current software incompatible
 Recommendation (Meg) to use new software that is more user-friendly
and start over
 Kevin proposes we start over (may be hire someone to do it)
 Possible people to use
 Cathy Jacobs (more expensive, but WordPress is very friendly) –
Kevin will get proposal
 Natalie Perkins (cheaper, but may not be able to update ourselves)
– Meg will get proposal
 Lauren Fordice, Liquid Creative – Hunter will get proposal
 Kevin will also contact Delta State – Graphics Design majors
o Wildlife Extravaganza



Company “Green Trees” (Ray Aycock, Gil Ray, and other former Natural
Resource folks) – focus on hardwood restoration with interplanting
cottonwoods
 Set-up and manned our booth Friday and Saturday
 Put their pamphlets at our booth also.
Old Business
o Contacted Chad Dacus re: bear biologist – has been advertised twice but no
acceptable candidates yet, so not filled (may be issue with HR)
 Highest priority for MDWFP for hiring
 Probably will be reannounced after the first of the year.
o KYT – update (see earlier)
o Thermal images of hog and bear – Kris – need to move forward. Will work with
Hunter to try to work on this spring. Extension wants to incorporate into hog
control workshops.
o Vice-president vacancy – any nominations?
New Business
o Administration Project – regular operating costs - $500 for 2015 – Kevin Project
Leader
 Shaun motioned, Meg seconded, approved
o Elementary Education Initiative Project – Deb Waz Project Leader
 Committee participants: teachers Deb recruited, Becky Rosamond, Brad
Young, Kevin Nelms, Jason Ross
 Leslie Burger may be resource to use to get program into school –
possibly have developed some curriculum sheets
 “River of words” – possible resource for how to incorporate science into
reading/language arts.
 Propose $500 initial operating budget with idea that additional funding
may be available with more detailed project proposal or after initial testing
of materials. Becky motioned, Kris seconded, approved.
o Letter from Scott Edwards and Jerry Belant requesting BEaR sponsor the
workshop in April
 In past hosting state’s bear group has always sponsored.
 Looking for minimum of $500 sponsorship to get logo posted.
 Kris motioned to sponsor for $1,000. Brad seconded. Paul thinks we
should be able to get someone to donate money for BEaR to sponsor.
Approved with no opposition.
Next meeting, April 16, 2015, look at alternate location in Jackson (zoo possibly).
Adjourned at 4:37 p.m.
Action Items




Website
o Kevin Nelms – get quote from Cathy Jacobs and contact Delta State Graphics
Design majors
o Meg Cooper – get quote from Natalie Perkins
o Hunter Fordice – get quote from Lauren Fordice, Liquid Creative
Jason Ross – follow up with QDMA re: generic hog/bear KYT poster
Kris Godwin – work with Hunter and others to try to get thermal images of hog and bear
Becky – send Stephanie list of current directors