Florida’s Upcoming Bear Hunt, Plus the Most Black Bear-Populated States

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Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has approved the state’s first regulated black bear hunt since 2015, scheduled for December 2025. The decision, made amid widespread public opposition, comes in response to concerns over a rebounding bear population now estimated at around 4,000 individuals. Officials cite an uptick in human-bear encounters, including a recent fatal attack, as justification for the decision. The hunt will issue 187 permits through a lottery system, allowing one bear per hunter and prohibiting the killing of cubs or females with young. Supporters argue the hunt is a responsible population management tool, while critics call it cruel and politically motivated. Conservationists maintain that the hunt is unnecessary, pointing to questionable population estimates and ongoing habitat loss as true threats to Florida’s black bears.

The North American Black Bear, native to North America, is the smallest of the three North American bear species, which include grizzlies and polar bears. Black bears mostly inhabit forested areas and mountain regions. Some black bears wander out of their forests into human communities. The overall population of American black bears in the United States ranges from 250,000 to more than 300,000.

A Quick Overview

The North American black bear is native to North America. It is the smallest of the three North American bear species, which include grizzlies and polar bears. It is typically solid black with a brown snout, but some black bears can be brown or even white. Some black bears have a white “crescent moon” patch on their chests, which is similar to the white patch worn by Asiatic black bears.

Basic Physical Characteristics

Black bear in Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, North Carolina, United States. — ©USFWS / Hollingsworth, John and Karen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons - Original / License

American black bears are highly dexterous, capable of opening screw-top jars and manipulating door latches. They also have great physical strength: a bear weighing 120 pounds (54kg) was observed turning flat rocks weighing 310 to 325 pounds (141 to 147kg) by flipping them over with a single foreleg. Black bears move in a rhythmic, sure-footed way and can run at speeds of 25 to 30 miles per hour (40 to 48kmh).

Where Do Black Bears Live?

Black bears live in every part of Canada.

©Elena Alex photo/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

They are in many U.S. states and every part of Canada except Prince Edward Island.

They mostly inhabit forested areas and mountain regions. Some black bears wander out of their forests into human communities. They’ve learned that these places are often sources of free food.

States that have 0 resident black bears include the following: Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

How Long Do Black Bears Live?

In captivity, black bears can live up to 40 years.

©self, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons - Original / License

Black bears can live for a relatively long time in the wild. The lifespan of a black bear can vary depending on factors such as habitat, diet, and human interactions.

The average lifespan of a black bear in the wild is around 20-25 years. However, some black bears can live up to 30 years in the wild.

Black bears in captivity, such as in zoos, can live longer than those in the wild due to better living conditions, medical care, and a controlled diet. They can live up to 40 years in captivity.

It’s worth noting that the lifespan of a black bear can also depend on factors such as the health and genetics of the individual bear.

What You Should Do If You Encounter a Black Bear

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If you encounter a black bear in the wild, stay calm and avoid approaching it. Make yourself look larger by standing tall, raising your arms, and speaking in a firm voice to alert the bear of your presence. Slowly back away while keeping an eye on the bear, but do not run. If the bear follows, stop and continue to make yourself appear large.

Ensure pets and children are close by. Never play dead. If the bear becomes aggressive or charges, use bear spray if available. In case of an attack, fight back aggressively. Report any aggressive behavior to wildlife authorities, and follow local guidelines for black bear encounters.

What Is the Black Bear Population in the United States?

black bear walks alone on wooden boardwalk, surrounded by green, lush trees — ©Greg Norgaard /iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

The overall population of American black bears in the United States ranges from 250,000 to more than 300,000. This number, however, excludes populations from Texas, Mississippi, and Wyoming, whose population sizes are unknown.

It’s important to note that most bear population numbers are not exact. Estimating the size of wildlife populations is always difficult. It’s even more difficult when biologists try to track animals with large home ranges, like bears. This means most official numbers may be off by a few hundred to more than 1,000, but they are the best that government surveyors and wildlife biologists can figure out.

For our bear population numbers, we relied on official numbers from each state’s Fish and Wildlife Department, Department of Natural Resources, or another appropriate source.

Alabama: 200

There are an estimated 200 black bears in Alabama. Most have been reintroduced to the northeastern part of the state. Conservationists believe their population spread from northwest Georgia. Most of the bears in Alabama are members of the subspecies Florida black bear, which is a bear species native to Florida.

Alaska: 100,000

With 100,000 black bears, Alaska has one of the largest black bear populations in the country. According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Wildlife, black bears are the most abundant and widely distributed of the three North American bear species living in the state. They live in most of Alaska’s forested areas and most of the state’s islands. In the summer, they fish for spawning salmon in Alaska’s rivers.

Arizona: 3,000

© Wendy/Jeff Sparks/Torquemada/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

The black bear is the only bear species in Arizona. The state has around 3,000 black bears living in coniferous forests, oak woodlands, chaparral, and mixed-wood forests.

Arkansas: 3,000

©Richard Jackson/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

Black bears were once abundant in this state, and the state even went by the nickname “The Bear State.” Hunting and deforestation decimated their population. By the 1920s, only 25 bears remained in the entire state.

In 1958, the state began a major effort to reintroduce black bears. That effort is considered one of the greatest wildlife reintroduction successes in the world. Today, more than 3,000 bears live in the state, and their population is stable and growing.

California: 25,000 to 35,000

Animal, Animal Head, Animal Wildlife, Animals In The Wild, Bear — ©wirestock/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

There are around 25,000 to 35,000 black bears in California. This makes it the largest population of black bears of any contiguous state. Since 1948, the state has classed black bears as game mammals, but the state has instituted restrictive laws on bear hunting licenses.

According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the state’s black bear population is growing, and black bears are being seen in areas where there were no bears 50 years ago. These include the central coast and Transverse mountain ranges of southern California. The state’s bear population occupies 52,000 miles of land.

Colorado: 16,000

Black Bear, Animal Wildlife, Cute, American Black Bear, Photography — ©Mandy Fuller Photography/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

There are an estimated 16,000 black bears in Colorado. Most of the state’s bears live in the expansive oak and aspen forests. They primarily eat chokecherry and serviceberry. According to the Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife, 90% of the state’s black bears are brown, honey-colored, or cinnamon-colored.

Connecticut: 800 to 1,000

American black bear (Ursus americanus) Jasper National Park Kanada — ©Frank Fichtmüller/iStock via Getty Images

Like Arkansas, Connecticut almost wiped out its black bear population by the start of the 20th century. Since the 1980s, black bears have made a comeback in the state. The state’s Department of Environmental Protection estimates there are 800 to 1,000 black bears in the state. Annual sightings of black bears have risen sharply every year, which leads biologists to believe that the black bear population is growing at a healthy pace.

Florida: 4,000

Black Bear on a rock near water — ©Svetlana Foote/Shutterstock.com

Florida has around 4,000 black bears. They are the only bear species in the state.

The state’s healthy black bear population is a triumph for local conservationists, who pushed to have the black bear listed on the state’s Endangered and Threatened Species List in the 1970s. At that time, the black bear population had fallen to around 300. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission describes the population as widespread and robust.

Georgia: 5,000

Wild black bear cub on the Rouge River, Oregon, USA — ©christiannafzger/iStock via Getty Images

Like other states, Georgia lost most of its bear population in the 1800s because of logging and deforestation. Today, there are more than 5,000 bears in the state. Black bears primarily live in the northern mountains, along the Ocmulgee River, and in the Okefenokee Swamp.

Idaho: 20,000 to 30,000

Idaho has 20,000 to 30,000 black bears. The bear population is healthy and growing. Most of them live in the mountain ranges, the foothills near Boise, and the southwest part of the state. Idaho has many wild, untouched areas, and bears find plenty to eat there.

Kentucky: 1,000

Black Bear by the river fishing — ©Mark Caunt/Shutterstock.com

The return of black bears to Kentucky is another wildlife success story. Once eliminated in the early 1900s, they have now returned. Kentucky officials did not plan to reintroduce black bears, but when massive logging and deforestation ended, the oak forests recovered. This drew bears from the neighboring states of West Virginia and Tennessee. Today, the state has 1,000 bears, and the population is growing.

Louisiana: 700 to 1,000

American Black Bear in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia — ©Orhan Cam/Shutterstock.com

Louisiana has 700 to 1,000 black bears. The state’s black bears are members of an endemic subspecies, the Louisiana black bear. The Louisiana black bear is the state’s national mammal and a conservation success story.

Maine: 35,000

A Black Bear roams for food in Sequoia National Park, California, USA — ©FiledIMAGE/Shutterstock.com

Maine has more black bears than any other New England state. The state’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife estimates there are more than 35,000 black bears in the state.

Maryland: 2,000

Maryland has more than 2,000 black bears. The state has breeding populations in the western counties of Garrett, Allegany, Frederick, and Washington. These counties are in mountainous, forested regions that are ideal for black bears.

Massachusetts: 4,500

Massachusetts has 4,500 black bears. This is surprising because Massachusetts is the third most densely populated state in the country after New Jersey and Rhode Island. The bear population thrives in the western and northern parts of the state.

Michigan: 15,000 to 19,000

Black Bear - Dangerous Animals in West Virginia — ©Ghost Bear/Shutterstock.com

Michigan officials estimate their black bear population is between 15,000 and 19,000. About 90% of those bears live in the Upper Peninsula region, which is characterized by dense conifer and hardwood forests. However, it is increasingly common to see bears in the Lower Peninsula.

Minnesota: 12,000 to 15,000

12,000 to 15,000 black bears live in Minnesota. The black bear is the only bear population that lives in Minnesota. The bears live in the state’s forested areas and swamps. They mostly eat insects, berries, acorns, and hazelnuts.

Mississippi: Unknown

Young black bear is looking for food next to garbage enclosure — ©Pawel Serafin/Shutterstock.com

Mississippi once had thousands of black bears and Louisiana black bears. Today, both bear species have been extirpated because of habitat loss and hunting. State biologists estimate there are only about 40 bears at most in the state. Habitat restoration is taking place, however, and conservationists are hopeful that black bears and Louisiana black bears will both return.

Missouri: 1,000

The state has around 1,000 black bears. Most bears in the state live in the region south of the Missouri River. The bear population is thriving, and wildlife experts believe it will continue to grow.

Montana: 15,000

Black Bear on road Mt Rainier, Washington — ©iStock.com/Mark Lee

Montana has around 15,000 black bears. However, state wildlife officials believe the population might be even larger than previously estimated. The state also has the largest grizzly population in the country after Alaska. Montana allows controlled hunting of bears twice a year.

Nevada: 500

A sleuth, or group, of three American black bears (Ursus americanus), a mother bear and two of her cubs, sit in a rocky field. — ©Derek R. Audette/Shutterstock.com

There are 500 black bears living in Nevada’s “bear country,” which is primarily the western part of the state. These bears are part of the Sierra Nevada black bear population, which includes bears living in the Cascade Range of northern California and southern Oregon. The total estimated population of the Sierra Nevada group is 10,000 to 15,000 bears.

New Hampshire: 4,800 to 5,000

New Hampshire has 4,800 to 5,000 black bears. It is the only bear species in the state. That seems like a large number for a small state, but New Hampshire is rich in forested areas. The state uses controlled hunting to manage its bear population.

New Jersey: 3,000

Mother bear gently nibbles at her cub as the lie on the grass — ©Susan Kehoe/Shutterstock.com

Black bears have been seen in all 21 of New Jersey’s counties. The state has around 3,000 black bears. Because bears are thriving, there are increasing reports of black bears visiting suburban areas to look for food.

New Mexico: 5,000 to 6,000

There are 5,000 to 6,000 black bears in the state. The state has a long cultural history of protecting these bears. New Mexico has had laws protecting black bears since 1927. Like many states with healthy black bear populations, it issues a controlled number of hunting permits each year to manage the bear count.

New York: 6,000 to 8,000

New York has between 6,000 to 8,000 black bears. These bears primarily live in the western, northern, and southeastern parts of the state, which are more heavily forested. Many of them live in the Adirondack Park, a 6-million-acre forest preserve that is safe from development. These bears enjoy the Hudson River, Lake Champlain, and acres of untouched forest.

North Carolina: 20,000

Bear cub on log with flowers — ©Geoffrey Kuchera/Shutterstock.com

There are more than 20,000 bears in the state. Of those, about 1,500 live in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The reintroduction of black bears is a conservation success story. North Carolina, like many states we’ve listed, once wiped out its bear population. Today, bear populations are healthy and thriving.

Ohio: 50 to 100

black bear cub — ©Susan Kehoe/Shutterstock.com

According to the state Department of Natural Resources, black bears have made a small comeback after being wiped out in Ohio. As Ohio’s woodlands have grown and more natural areas are being preserved, they have returned. Currently, there are an estimated 50 to 100 black bears in the state. That number continues to grow, however, and bear sightings are on the rise.

Oklahoma: 2,500

Black Bear in Pond — ©jo Crebbin/Shutterstock.com

Oklahoma has around 2,500 black bears. Most of these bears live in the Ouachita Mountains in the southeast or the Oklahoma Ozarks in the eastern central part of the state. The number of black bears in the state has steadily grown since 2011, and the current bears are thriving.

Oregon: 25,000 to 30,000

There are an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 black bears in Oregon. They are the only remaining bear species. They live in the state’s many large tracts of dense, unpopulated forests. Black bears in Oregon are mostly herbivores, but they will occasionally eat small mammals, fish, and the leftover carcasses of mountain lion kills.

Pennsylvania: 16,000

black bear cubs — ©iStock.com/Annalise Kaylor

The black bear population of Pennsylvania is around 16,000. It is the only state on our list where the population has fallen. The state manages the bear population through controlled hunting, and state wildlife officials say the current number is a healthy one for the state.

Rhode Island: Unknown

Rhode Island wiped out its bear population, but it has recently reported a small comeback. Biologists believe a small group of bears from Connecticut has established a breeding site in Rhode Island. They think there may be 10 breeding bears, but these numbers are not confirmed.

South Carolina: 1,100

South Carolina has around 1,100 black bears. The state has two distinct black bear communities. Around 900 bears live in the mountains and Upper Piedmont area, and another 200 live in the coastal plain. According to the state’s Department of Natural Resources, black bears are ranked as a “vulnerable” species in the state. While bears in the mountains still have plenty of space, the coastal bears are threatened by development and habitat fragmentation.

Tennessee: 5,500 to 6,000

©MONGO, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons - Original / License

Tennessee has 5,500 to 6,000 black bears. These bears primarily live in areas protected by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Cherokee National Forest. Like many states, Tennessee almost eliminated its black bear population at the start of the century, but conservation efforts have helped the bears thrive again.

Texas: Unknown

Cinnamon Black Bear Cub at Adirondack Wildlife Refuge Upstate New York — ©James Casil/Shutterstock.com

The black bear and Louisiana black bear were native to Texas, but both species were wiped out. Biologists believe there might be 30 to 40 resident breeding bears. Conservation efforts have focused on reintroducing black bears to Texas. They are considered a protected species in the state, and it is illegal to hunt or trap them.

Utah: 4,000

©Diane Krauss (DianeAnna), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons - Original / License

There are around 4,000 bears in Utah. Many of them live in the wild areas of Zion National Park, one of the largest national parks in the country. Bears do not commonly go into residential areas in Utah.

Vermont: 4,500 to 6,000

Vermont has many wild, forested areas, so it’s only natural it would have a healthy black bear population. It currently has from 4,500 to 6,000 bears in residence. The state has determined it can easily support this number of black bears, and it uses controlled hunting licenses to manage the population.

Virginia: 18,000 to 20,000

With an estimated population of 18,000 to 20,000, Virginia has a lot of black bears. They are the state’s largest land mammal, and their diet in Virginia is 75% vegetarian. With these high numbers, human encounters with bears have also increased, but there are no reported bear attacks.

Washington: 25,000 to 30,000

American Black Bear, Animal, Animal Wildlife, Animals In The Wild, Bear — ©KenRinger/ via Getty Images

There are an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 black bears in Washington. They live in all parts of the state except the Columbia Plain, which does not have forests. Bears live in the coastal rainforests and the dry woodlands of the Cascade Mountains. The state is also home to grizzly bears.

West Virginia: 12,000 to 14,000

The black bear is West Virginia’s state mammal. Despite this, the state’s black bear population had diminished to under 500 by the 1970s. Since then, conservation efforts and better public understanding have allowed black bears to flourish once again. There are now an estimated 12,000 to 14,000 black bears, and they live in every county of West Virginia.

Wisconsin: 24,000

Black Bear Showing Teeth — ©Jim Cumming/Shutterstock.com

More than 24,000 black bears live in Wisconsin. Like other states with healthy black bear populations, Wisconsin has many forested wild areas. Black bears mostly live in the far northern region of the state, but they have increasingly been spotted in the southern regions.

Wyoming: Unknown

Wyoming only began counting black bears in 2019, although the state has always kept track of its grizzly population. Wildlife officials say the black bear population is robust and stable, but exact numbers are not available. About 500 black bears live in Yellowstone Park, which is primarily in Wyoming.