Louisiana black bear facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Louisiana black bear |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Ursidae |
| Genus: | Ursus |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
U. a. luteolus
|
| Trinomial name | |
| Ursus americanus luteolus Griffith, 1821
|
|
The Louisiana black bear (Ursus americanus luteolus) is a special type of American black bear. It is one of 16 different kinds, or subspecies, of black bears found in North America.
You can find these bears mainly in Louisiana. They live along the Mississippi River Valley and in the Atchafalaya River Basin. From 1992 to 2016, the Louisiana black bear was considered a 'threatened' animal. This meant it was at risk of becoming endangered.
Scientists have often discussed if this bear is truly a separate subspecies.
Contents
What Does the Louisiana Black Bear Look Like?
The Louisiana black bear looks very much like other American black bears. It doesn't have many big differences in its appearance.
However, if you look closely at its skull, it is longer, narrower, and flatter. Its back teeth, called molars, are also quite large. Most of these bears have black fur. But sometimes, you might see one with a cinnamon-colored coat.
Where Do Louisiana Black Bears Live?
Long ago, Louisiana black bears lived in many places. They were found across Louisiana, Mississippi, East Texas, and Arkansas.
Today, we know of four main areas where these bears live:
- In south Louisiana, near St. Mary Parish and Iberia Parish.
- In central Louisiana, around Pointe Coupee Parish.
- In east-central Louisiana, in the Richard K. Yancey Wildlife Management Area. This area is in Concordia and Avoyelles Parishes.
- In northeast Louisiana, in Tensas, Madison, and West Carroll Parishes.
These bears can travel very far. They have been seen in parts of Louisiana where bears usually don't live. Some bears have even moved into East Texas and Mississippi. You might hear about them in places like Kisatchie National Forest, Allen Parish, Natchitoches Parish, East Baton Rouge, and Bossier City.
Protecting the Louisiana Black Bear
The IUCN (a group that studies nature) says that the American black bear species is not in danger. It is listed as "Least Concern." However, the Louisiana black bear subspecies faced serious threats.
In 1992, the Louisiana black bear was listed as 'threatened' under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. This law protected all Louisiana black bears. It also protected other American black bears that looked similar to them. This protection covered bears from eastern Texas to southern Mississippi.
The main reason these bears became threatened was losing their homes. Their forest habitats were being cut down or changed.
Thanks to many conservation efforts, things have improved. Over 600,000 acres of forestland in Louisiana's Mississippi River floodplain have been saved and regrown. Groups like the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service bought land to create Wildlife Management Areas and National Wildlife Refuges.
Private landowners also helped regrow forests through special programs. Organizations like the Black Bear Conservation Coalition (BBCC), The Nature Conservancy, and Ducks Unlimited also played a big part. Because of all this hard work, the Louisiana black bear was removed from the threatened list on April 11, 2016. This was a big success for conservation!
See also
In Spanish: Oso negro de Luisiana para niños
