The American black bear (Ursus americanus) is a native species occupying a significant ecological role across Wyoming’s diverse landscapes. A precise statewide count is scientifically unachievable, as the population is far more complex than a singular number. Wildlife managers instead focus on regional monitoring and localized density estimates to gauge the species’ health. This approach uses sophisticated management units and monitoring techniques to conserve these animals within the state’s ecosystems.
Current Population Estimates
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) does not calculate a single, fixed statewide population number for black bears, as this estimate is not biologically useful for localized management. The species is managed across multiple Bear Management Units (BMUs), with data collected to determine population trends and densities within those specific regions. This approach recognizes that black bear populations are often isolated by unsuitable prairie and sagebrush habitat, which acts as a barrier to movement.
Recent monitoring provides localized estimates that inform management decisions for individual BMUs. For example, a 2013 estimate for the Snowy Range in southeastern Wyoming placed the local population at approximately 100 individuals, suggesting a stable or slightly increasing trajectory. The focus remains on gathering density data within a unit, rather than projecting a total number across the entire state, which is too large and varied for a precise census. Modern techniques provide reliable, unit-specific figures to guide female mortality quotas and hunting season structures.
Geographic Distribution and Habitat
Black bears are found primarily in the state’s forested mountain ranges and associated riparian zones, as they require dense cover. These montane forest habitats are separated by prairie and grassland, which restricts movement and contributes to distinct regional subpopulations. The highest densities are generally found in the Bighorn National Forest, particularly in the northern portion of the state.
Black bears also occupy national forest lands in western Wyoming, including the Shoshone and Bridger-Teton National Forests. They often coexist with the federally protected grizzly bear in these areas. Their preferred habitat consists of mixed-conifer forests, aspen groves, and drainages that provide forage like berries, nuts, and insects. Seasonal movement involves descending to lower elevations to forage in spring and returning to higher-elevation berry patches before hibernation.
Distinguishing Black Bears from Grizzly Bears
In Wyoming, black bears and grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) share territory, making accurate identification necessary for public safety and wildlife management. This is especially important since the grizzly bear remains under federal protection in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Identification should never rely on color alone, as black bears commonly exhibit color phases ranging from black to cinnamon or brown. Four key physical characteristics reliably differentiate the two species.
Black bears lack the pronounced muscular hump between the shoulders that is a hallmark of the grizzly bear. They possess a long, straight facial profile from the forehead to the nose tip. Their claws are short and sharply curved, an adaptation that makes them adept at climbing trees and tearing into logs for insects. In contrast, grizzly bears have longer, straighter claws suited for digging, and their ears appear smaller and more rounded relative to their head size.
Population Monitoring and Management
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department employs multiple scientific techniques to monitor black bear populations and gather precise data for each Bear Management Unit. One effective non-invasive method is the use of DNA hair snares. These consist of a barbed wire corral set up around an area treated with a curious-smelling, non-food lure. When a bear crosses the wire to investigate, hair is snagged and collected for genetic analysis.
Genetic monitoring allows biologists to identify individual bears and use capture-recapture models to estimate population density. Management is further informed by mandatory reporting of hunter-harvested bears. A tooth is extracted from these bears to determine the animal’s age using the cementum annuli technique. This data helps track population age structure and reproductive rates. To maintain stability, the state manages black bears as a game species, regulating harvest through female mortality quotas set for each BMU.