A solitary black bear roaming the Neches River corridor in Anderson and Cherokee counties has become a local celebrity in East Texas, drawing public fascination after lingering in the area for nearly 10 months.
The bear, estimated to weigh at least 200 pounds and stand about three feet tall at the shoulder, arrived around July 15 of last year. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) district wildlife biologist Rueben Gay, who oversees Cherokee, Houston, and Rusk counties, has tracked it through public reports and photos.
“We just ain’t never had one stay this long and want to live here,” Gay said, Audacy reported.
Young male black bears occasionally pass through East Texas from neighboring states, but this one has settled in the hardwood bottomland along the Neches River between Highways 79, 84, and 294.
Abundant food from deer feeders, ideal natural cover, and a mild winter, which kept the bear somewhat active rather than fully hibernating, appear to have encouraged its extended stay.
The bear is described as skittish and shy, with no reports of aggression toward humans; its only noted mischief involves knocking over corn feeders.
TPWD is reminding residents to follow “BearWise” safety practices to keep the animal wild and prevent it from becoming habituated to people. Officials advise against feeding or approaching the bear, securing food sources such as grills, pet food, or livestock feed, making loud noises if encountered while hiking or camping, and carrying bear spray or pepper spray as a precaution.
As summer approaches, the bear will reach full maturity and may eventually leave the area in search of a mate, possibly heading toward established breeding populations in Louisiana, Arkansas, or Oklahoma.
TPWD continues to monitor the bear through public sightings rather than GPS collars to minimize interference. Residents who spot it are asked to report the sighting to their local county biologist or game warden.
“Continue to live your life,” Gay advised. “Ninety-nine percent of bears out there in the wild are harmless to us … just increase your awareness.”
Black bears are a protected species in Texas. The agency recently confirmed that the bear successfully overwintered along the Neches River corridor — the first documented case in East Texas in more than 50 years — and remains shy of humans.
More information about bears and bear safety is available on the TPWD website.
