A black bear took a morning break in the backyard tree of a house in northeast Natchez near St. Catherine Creek in 2022. If you encounter a black bear it is best to step back and allow it to move along its way. Bear encounters become more frequent as bears move more around breeding time. (File Photo / The Natchez Democrat)

BROOKHAVEN — The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks is asking people to report sightings of an elusive, quiet and black predator which might strike fear upon sight. No, they are not talking about black panthers in Bogue Chitto.

Black bears wander around Mississippi specifically along the border with Louisiana and north Mississippi where populations have grown from less than 50 in 2002.

Two years ago, a black bear rambled around the city of Natchez before it was lured into a trap with donuts from The Donut Shop and relocated to a safe location by the MDWFP. There are two subspecies of black bears in Mississippi, the Louisiana Black Bear and American Black Bear.

People can report sightings to the MDWFP under the black bear program tab. MDWFP is continuing research on the bears while educating the public about black bears and mitigating human and bear conflicts.

Black bears are an endangered species.