TulsaPets Magazine November 2021

28 TulsaPets • November/December 2021 In May, a young male black bear ventured into the streets of Norman and climbed a tree. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation corralled the yearling and tried several times to tran- quilize him before killing him when he attempted to make a run into neighborhoods and yards. Although a bear in Norman is an uncommon sight, black bears are plentiful in towns in south- eastern and east-central Oklahoma and the Panhan- dle. In fact, in certain parts of the state, encounter- ing a black bear is a real possibility, with sightings possible anywhere in the eastern half of the state and in the western tip of the Panhandle. With a fairly healthy population of black bears, sightings are becoming more common farther west into the central part the state, even as far as Ada and Wewoka. Spotting an Oklahoma black bear might be a thrill for people who are unused to the animals, but any time humans and wildlife mix, problems are bound to occur. Now, research by Oklahoma State University researcher Sue Fairbanks and her colleagues helps to create a positive future for black bears in Oklahoma by providing a greater understanding of the animals’ habitat. Yes, Oklahoma Has Black Bears But They Are More Complicated Than You Think By Heide Brandes Photographs by Todd Johnson, OSU Agricultural Communications Services An Oklahoma black bear pauses while scaling a tree. Sightings of black bears are becoming more common in Oklahoma.