Photo courtesy MDC.
by Don Corrigan
Roadkill bear news stories usually originate from states such as Florida, Montana, Wyoming, Michigan and California. However, an increase in black bear population and bear highway incidents may put Missouri on the roadkill road map for large animals.
The most recent bear-versus-traffic incident in the Show-Me-State happened shortly before Memorial Day. A black bear that had been spotted in the Festus-Crystal City area was struck by a vehicle and killed on Tuesday, May 23, according to authorities.
Festus Police reported that at 9:10 p.m. a bear was struck by a vehicle and was found lying in the median of I-55 south of Highway A. The location is about 20 miles south of St. Louis.
This was not the first time a bear was struck and left as roadkill on I-55 in southern Jefferson County. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), bear sightings are more common this time of year, because mothers push male cubs to go out on their own.
Bears wandering in populated areas present a danger in any state. Nationally, a number of states far surpass Missouri in bear populations and roadkill traffic incidents with bears.
The primary cause of death in Florida for black bear involves roadkill incidents, with traffic collisions responsible for nearly 90 percent of bear deaths. Roughly 100 bears die each year in Florida due road-related accidents.
The year 2018 was a particularly bad one for grizzlies in the Northern Rockies when 51 bears died. Automobile deaths were the biggest contributors to grisly grizzly statistics. In recent years, almost half of the deaths of bears involved road mortality.
Missouri’s conservation department urges residents to take precautions to protect their families and their pets from bears. Bears generally avoid humans, but humans should never deliberately feed bears which interferes with their avoidance behavior.
The MDC provides the following suggestions to remain safe from bears.
– Be careful about putting food out for pets. If you have to feed a pet outside, give them just enough for a meal. Then take any remaining food inside.
– Make sure your trash is sealed. Wait to put it out until the morning of its collection.
– Use caution with barbecue grills. Thoroughly clean them or keep them inside. The meat drippings can attract bears.
– Bears may also be attracted to bird feeders. You might want to take them inside for a few days or, possibly a week, until time has passed since any sightings.
For more information, go to mdc.mo.gov and search “bear reports.”
(Don Corrigan is the author of American Roadkill, which includes a book chapter on the road carnage of bears across the United States.)
Environmental Echo 