Missouri Conservationist June 2010

2010·3 MB·English

by  Missouri Department of Conservation

Missouri
C
onservationist
VOLUME 71, ISSUE 6, JUNE 2010 •SERVING NATURE &YOU
[ ]
NOTE TO OUR READERS
Missourians Are Committed to Conservation
W
hether feeding birds or watching wildlife, hunting, than the 1/8 of 1 cent sales tax generates). In addition, forest, fish
canoeing and boating, target shooting, fishing or and wildlife resources support more than 95,000 Missouri jobs.
spending time at a nature center, Missourians are The Conservation Department is not immune to eco-
dedicated to the outdoors. nomic downturns. When
Opportunities to participate revenues are down for the
in these and other activities state, they are down for the
within Missouri should not be Department. The Depart-
taken for granted. The vision, ment has taken strategic
passion and commitment of and prudent steps to address
Missouri’s citizens for forest, revenue shortfalls during the
fish and wildlife resources past year. Examples include
have shaped the conserva- a reduction in salaried posi-
tion services and experiences tions, modification of some
enjoyed today. The following services and select office
points provide insight into closures.
Missouri’s nationally recog- Citizens have created
G
nized conservation program. ON a Conservation Department
H
have Mtiasskoeunr i’su niqucei tizaennds DOL PAOT Ththaatt isi st heb eencavuys oe f tMhei snsoautiroin’s.
proactive steps to support OPPA system serves every county
N
and enhance conservation From left: Commissioner Don R. Johnson, Director Robert L. Ziehmer, and maintains the necessary
efforts. A citizen-led initia- Commissioner William F. “Chip” McGeehan, Commissioner Becky L. infrastructure to support ser-
tive petition, resulting in Plattner and Commissioner Don C. Bedell vices. The Department serves
passage of a constitutional both rural and urban citizens
amendment, created the Con- through a variety of educa-
servation Commission in 1936. This action created the consti- tional programs, including hunter education, landowner techni-
tutional mandate that guides Department efforts to a) protect cal assistance, intense training for rural volunteer firefighters
and manage the forest, fish and wildlife resources, b) serve the and much more. Citizen support of programs and services,
public and facilitate participation in resource management provided by a dedicated and high-quality conservation staff,
activities, and c) provide opportunities for all citizens to use, ensures fish and wildlife are abundant, forests sustainable and
enjoy and learn about forest, fish and wildlife resources. In 1976, our waters healthy.
a successful citizen-led effort to provide dedicated funding, Missouri’s quality of life—not to mention economy—is
through a 1/8 of 1 cent sales tax, greatly enhanced strategic and built on our diverse, high-quality and abundant natural
long-term management of forest, fish and all wildlife species. resources like productive water, healthy forests, abundant
Citizens have created a Conservation Department that fish and wildlife and rich soils. A recent survey revealed that
“pays its way.” The Department continues to—and must—live more than 70 percent of Missourians feel the Department of
within its financial means. The Department operates on a Conservation is doing an excellent or good job of providing
budget that is less than 0.7 percent of Missouri’s total state services to the state.
budget. This fiscal year, the 1/8 of 1 cent Conservation Sales Missouri’s citizen-created Conservation Department is
Tax will generate approximately $92 million—funds that are something to feel good about and something to value. Thank
earmarked and spent to make fish and wildlife abundant and you for your commitment. The future of our state’s conserva-
forests sustainable. No dollars are received from the state gov- tion success story is dependent on continued citizen support—
ernment general revenue fund. the cornerstone of Missouri’s conservation experience.
Missourians value wildlife recreation, hunting and fish-
ing experiences. There is an $11.4 billion annual impact from
Missouri’s fish and wildlife-related recreation and our forestry
industries. As a result, forest, fish and wildlife expenditures gen-
erate more than $439 million in state and local taxes (much more Robert L. Ziehmer, director
[CONTENTS]

June 2010, Volume 71, Issue 6
Cover: Turner Mill by David Stonner
Left: Huzzah Trail by David Stonner
NextGEN
This section reports on goals established
in The Next Generation of Conservation.
To read more about this plan, visit
www.MissouriConservation.org/12843.
FEATURES
4 NEWS & EVENTS
8 The Core of Conservation 30 PLANTS & ANIMALS
by Chris Canipe, photos by Cliff White
Whetstone Creek Conservation Area benefits from enthusiastic
Americorps volunteers.
MISCELLANY
12 For the Love of Pine 2 Letters
by Candice Davis, photos by David Stonner 5 Ombudsman
Winona’s Twin Pines Conservation Education Center thrives in its 32 Hunting and Fishing Calendar
first two years. 32 Contributors
33 Agent Notes
18 Kayak Angling
by Brett Boschert, photos by David Stonner
These lightweight boats skim the surface while you plumb the depths
for fish.
22 The Ozark Trail
by David Stonner
All paths lead to wonder.
June 2010 Missouri Conservationist 1
[LETTERS]
Submissions reflect readers’ opinions and might be edited for length and clarity.
Turkey tales
longbeard, but I changed my thinking and never three-day hunt. My dad, Delbert Watts, was part
gave up. With that thought process, I became of the first season and harvested a turkey. He
I just read the April
a very successful turkey hunter and greater has hunted turkey for the past  years and has
success in my life followed. never missed a season.
Conservationist
.
Since then, I have given back to several youth Dad’s  years young now and not quite as
hunters and first-time turkey hunters. But, after quick as he used to be, but he is full of good
In my childhood, reading was not my strong suit, -plus years of hunting turkey on Conservation stories for anyone that will sit and listen.
and my confidence was nonexistent. All that land, I still feel as if I owe a greater thanks. After Tim Watts, Butler
started to change when I was introduced to the reading  Years of Missouri Turkey, I knew who
Missouri Department of Conservation. I wanted to thank: I want to thank everyone Many people know how delicious fried wild tur-
The first time I met someone from the MDC who got up every early morning over the past  key breast is. However, many outdoorsmen don’t
was on a grade school special school district years to ensure one of the greatest conservation know how delicious the remainder of the turkey
fishing trip. I caught the biggest fish that day. stories in Missouri and the U.S. I’m glad there can be. Our family cuts off turkey breast to fry,
Later in my life, I went on my first bow hunt and were enough people out there that could see then we cut up the rest of the turkey like you
shot my first deer, which took place on MDC land. that turkey needed a hand because when you would a whole chicken. I slow-cook or pressure-
Soon after, a family friend took me on my first conserve wildlife, you conserve people. I’m proof. cook it; thighs, legs, wings, back, neck and
turkey hunt (also on MDC land) that changed Scott Diebold, via Internet breast bone. When the meat is tender, I shred
my life. And then, a few years later, I shot my it. Add five bullion cubes into the hot broth, put
first longbeard on a managed hunt at Busch Mr. Dailey’s article stated that Missouri’s spring the meat in the broth, and then freeze / of
Wildlife. The odds were against me to harvest a turkey hunting season opened in  with a this for later. To the remaining /, add:  large,
family-sized can of cream of mushroom soup, 
tsp. pepper, and  tsp. garlic powder. Simmer
five minutes and serve over egg noodles or rice.
Gaye Valle, De Soto
Missouri Close-Ups
I just wanted to say thank you to Noppadol
Paothong and David Stonner. I am a local Joplin
photographer and think we have a beautiful
state. I have been inspired many times by the
quality of photos I find in the Missouri Conserva-
tionist. They are not just good photos showing
an accurate description of Missouri landscapes
and wildlife, but they are very artistic as well.
Thank you so much for what you do.
Aaron Wilcox, Joplin
The March issue of the Conservationist is really
incredible. You certainly have two very fine
Outfoxed photographers. David Stonner really impressed
Reader Photo
with his trout photos accompanying the article
Kim Peters of Nixa photographed this red fox in her backyard. “I frequently see Gone Fishing [Page ]. I appreciated his lens
opossum in the woodpile, but was delighted to see two foxes the morning I took and camera settings being included. He and
this picture,” says Peters. “In the last few years I have really taken an interest Noppadol Paothong always impress, but Mr.
in photography. I don’t have a long enough zoom lens to get the wildlife shots I Stonner’s photos this month really displayed
would like, but I do the best I can. I knew my lens wasn’t good enough to get a incredible skill.
good shot of the fox from a distance, so it took me about 10 minutes to inch my The article Gainful Gobbling [Page ] was a
way close enough. I was, at one point, crawling on my stomach like a soldier!” hoot and, once again, so were the photos.
Mike Geske,Matthews
2 Missouri Conservationist June 2010
Missouri
Northeast SUBSCRIPTIONS
C
Northwest Phone: [phone], ext. 3856 or 3249 onservationist
Address: Circulation, PO Box 180, Jefferson City 65102-0180
E-mail: [email protected]
Conservationist online services: Subscribe to the
Kansas Central St. GOVERNOR Jeremiah W. “Jay” Nixon
City Louis magazine, update your mailing address, or sign up to
receive an e-mail when the latest issue is available THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
online at www.MissouriConservation.org/15287 Don C. Bedell
Southeast Cost of subscriptions: Free to Missouri households Don R. Johnson
Southwest
William F. “Chip” McGeehan
Out of State $7 per year
Ozark Becky L. Plattner
Out of Country $10 per year
Please allow 6—8 weeks for delivery of your first issue. Director Robert L. Ziehmer
Deputy Director Thomas A. Draper
OMBUDSMAN QUESTIONS
Deputy Director Tim D. Ripperger
Phone: [phone], ext. 3848 General Counsel Tracy E. McGinnis
DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS
Address: Ombudsman, PO Box 180, Internal Auditor Nancy R. Dubbert
Phone: [phone]
Address: PO Box 180, Jefferson City 65102-0180 DIVISION CHIEFS
E-mail: [email protected] Administrative Services Carter Campbell
Jefferson City 65102-0180 Design and Development William F. Lueckenhoff
EDITORIAL COMMENTS
REGIONAL OFFICES Fisheries William M. Turner
Phone: [phone], ext. 3245 or 3847 Forestry Lisa G. Allen
Southeast/Cape Girardeau: 573-290-5730
Address: Magazine Editor, PO Box 180, Human Resources Thomas Neubauer
Central/Columbia: 573-884-6861 Jefferson City 65102-0180 Outreach & Education Lorna Domke
Kansas City: 816-655-6250 Private Land Services William D. McGuire
E-mail: [email protected]
Northeast/Kirksville: 660-785-2420 Protection Larry D. Yamnitz
Southwest/Springfield: 417-895-6880 READER PHOTO SUBMISSIONS Resource Science Ronald J. Dent
Northwest/St. Joseph: 816-271-3100 Address: Missouri Conservationist, Reader Photo, Wildlife DeeCee Darrow
St. Louis: 636-441-4554 PO Box 180, Jefferson City 65102-0180 CONSERVATIONIST STAFF
Ozark/West Plains: 417-256-7161 E-mail: [email protected] Editor In Chief Ara Clark
Managing Editor Nichole LeClair Terrill
Art Director Cliff White
Don’t Get Scammed—Do not give any information to anyone who comes to your door soliciting Conservationist Writer/Editor Tom Cwynar
subscriptions. It could be a scam. Get as much information as possible and then contact your regional Missouri Department Staff Writer Bonnie Chasteen
of Conservation office, police department or the Missouri Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222. Staff Writer Jim Low
Photographer Noppadol Paothong
Photographer David Stonner
MDC Online Discover more about nature and the outdoors through these sites. Designer Stephanie Thurber
Artist Dave Besenger
Blog: www.MissouriConservation.org/17526 MDC Web site: www.MissouriConservation.org Artist Mark Raithel
Circulation Laura Scheuler
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MDConline Nature Shop: www.mdcNatureShop.com
Flickr: www.MissouriConservation.org/20010 Twitter: www.twitter.com/MDC_Online The Missouri Conservationist (ISSN 0026-6515) is the of-
Kid’s site: www.XplorMo.org www.twitter.com/Nature_Videos ficial monthly publication of the Missouri Department
of Conservation, 2901 West Truman Boulevard, Jefferson
Missouri Conservationist Web site: YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/moconservation
City, MO (Mailing address: PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO
www.MissouriConservation.org/3939 65102.) Subscription free to adult Missouri residents; out
of state $7 per year; out of country $10 per year. Notifi-
cation of address change must include both old and new
address (send mailing label with the subscriber number
New Kids’ Magazine
on it) with 60-day notice. Preferred periodical postage
paid at Jefferson City, Mo., and at additional entry offices.
Postmaster: Send correspondence to Circulation, PO Box
Six times a year we’ll bring you eye-popping art, photos and
180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180. Phone: [phone],
stories about Missouri’s coolest critters, niftiest natural places, ext. 3856 or 3249. Copyright © 2010 by the Conservation
liveliest outdoor activities and people who’ve made a living in Commission of the State of Missouri.
the wild. Come outside with us and XPLOR!
Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from
Ages: 7–12 programs of the Missouri Department of Conservation
is available to all individuals without regard to their race,
Missouri residents: FREE (one subscription per household)
color, national origin, sex, age or disability. Questions
Out of state: $5 per year; Out of country: $8 per year
should be directed to the Department of Conservation, PO
A guardian’s name and address is required with the subscription. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102, 573-751-4115 (voice)
Please alllooww 66—8 weeks for delivery of your first issue. or 800-735-2966 (TTY), or to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service Division of Federal Assistance, 4401 N. Fairfax
Drive, Mail Stop: MBSP-4020, Arlington, VA 22203.
www.XplorMo.org
Printed with soy ink
573-522-4115, ext. 3856 or 3249
June 2010 Missouri Conservationist 3
[ ]
NEWS & EVENTS
by Jim Low
that it is open or a special permit is obtained.
Please do not handle bats. Contact a Con-
servation Department office if you find dead
bats with white, fuzzy fungal growth. For more
information, visit www.MissouriConservation.
org/8442.
Missouri Issues Walnut Quarantine
A ban on transporting walnut products from nine
Western states into or through Missouri under-
scores the growing danger to Missouri forests
from exotic pests.
The quarantine, issued by the Department of
Agriculture’s Plant Industries Division, became ef-
fective April  to protect the state’s black walnut
trees from the spread of thousand cankers disease.
The affected states are Arizona, California, Colo-
rado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah
and Washington, plus northern Mexico.
Missouri is the first state to ban walnut
products from areas where a beetle and newly
described fungus blamed for the thousand can-
kers disease has been found. The walnut twig
beetle carries a fungus that can form thousands
of cankers under the bark of host trees. Early
symptoms include leaf yellowing and wilting in
the upper canopy of trees.
A recent Conservation Department study
found that the annual economic impact from
thousand cankers could exceed $ million in
The Conservation Department is working with Missourians to contain and learn more about Missouri, including $ million in wood products,
the White-Nose Syndrome that is affecting bats such as this little brown bat that shows the $ million in nut production and the loss of $
beginnings of a fungal infection on its wings. million in landscaping and street trees.
The beetle and fungus join a growing number G
MDC Monitoring New Bat Disease OR
D.
O
O
W
G
U
Y, B
The Missouri Department of Conservation and freeze or starve to death. More than a mil- VERIST
NI
nreecwen dtliyse acsoen fiinr mbeadts tMhiasts osucirei’ns tifistrss th asvigen ns aomf eda dlioisne absaet ss iinnc e state.s Iatn adp Cpaenaards at oh asvpere daided m oaf itnhley O STATE U
D
A
“White-Nose Syndrome.” through bat-to-bat contact and has not been OR
OL
WNS first came to biologists’ attention in New found to infect humans or other animals. AT, C
Yfuonrkg uSst,a tGee oinm yces .d eItsst rnuactmanes ,d etyspcriicbaellsy tfhoeu nwdh iotne conBsuamts inpgla yt hao uvistaanl dros leo fi nt oMnsis soofu mri’os tehcso, sbyesteetmless, NED TISSER
the faces and wings of infected bats. Laboratory and other insects annually and sustaining cave A ban on transporting walnut products from NUT:
tfoesutnsd r eince an ptlryiv caotnelfiyr mowende tdh ec aWveN iSn fPuinkeg uCso uonnt ay .bat slieferv batyi obnr iDnegpinagrt mnuetnrite hnatss lfornogm r eosutrtiscitdeed. aTchcee sCso tno- hneinlpe sw persotteercnt ss toautre ws ianltnou ot rt rteheros ufrgohm M ai sbseoeutrlie HIELS; WAL
Bats with WNS awaken more often during select caves to protect bats and fragile cave ecosys- that causes wood to become infected with DEREK S
hibernation, so they consume energy reserves tems. MDC caves are closed unless a sign is posted fungus such as this tree branch. AT:
B
4 Missouri Conservationist June 2010
of exotic scourges threatening Missouri forests. by transporting firewood. Commercial shipment of ments and gunstocks, are also allowed.
Missouri already has one small infestation of wood products is another avenue of entry for ex- For more information on thousand cankers
the emerald ash borer, which invariably kills ash otic pests. Missouri’s external quarantine includes disease, visit mda.mo.gov/plants/pests/thou
trees. The Show-Me State conducts annual moni- any firewood cut from hardwood trees and walnut sandcankers.php. If you notice a suspicious
toring to detect potential outbreaks of the gypsy nursery stock, green lumber or any other walnut decline in black walnut trees or otherwise sus-
moth, which has killed millions of oaks and other material living, dead, cut or fallen. Products ex- pect an infestation of thousand cankers, contact
trees in the eastern half of the United States by empt from the ban include nuts, nutmeats, hulls the State Entomologist at --.
repeated defoliation. and bark-free, kiln-dried lumber with squared
Campers can spread non-native invasive pests sides. Finished products, such as furniture, instru- (continued on Page )
Ask the Ombudsman
Q:
I’ve had several
hummingbirds at my feeders
this spring but they seem to have
disappeared now. Where do they go?
A: It is normal to have fewer
hummingbirds at nectar
feeders during late spring and early summer. Many
hummingbirds continue to migrate to areas north of
Missouri for nesting. Birds that do nest here tend to visit
feeders less frequently during nesting. They stay closer
to their nests, and their diets shift to more protein. The
birds often find insects and spiders in flower blossoms but
Ruby-throated hummingbird
also will take some insects from the air while in flight.
Hummingbirds are likely to be most abundant at nectar
Q:
feeders from August to mid-September as migrating birds I live in Perry County and I was wondering
pass back through Missouri on their way to overwintering why I am seeing more and more armadillos the
sites in Central America. During that time, their numbers last few years. Are they being imported or are they just
have swelled to include the new young birds hatched during moving north?
the summer.
A: Armadillos are naturally expanding their range
northward and eastward into Missouri. We are not
aware of any intentional importation of the animals into the
state. Armadillos first appeared in southwest Missouri in the
mid-1970s. They have since expanded into most, if not all,
counties south of the Missouri River, and they are now being
reported more frequently north of the river as well. Harsh
winters may temporarily reduce our armadillo population,
but enough individuals are likely to survive to maintain
them as Missouri residents for the foreseeable future. Here’s
a link to more information: www.MissouriConservation.
Armadillo
org/16308.
Ombudsman Tim Smith will respond to your questions, suggestions or complaints concerning Department of Conservation programs.
Write him at PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, call him at 573-522-4115, ext. 3848, or e-mail him at [email protected].
June 2010 Missouri Conservationist 5
[NEWS & EVENTS]
by Jim Low
Spring Turkey Harvest
the total harvest would be approximately keys—seen with turkey hens during the summer
Hunters made the most of the final week of ,. He attributed the -percent larger har- by volunteer observers.
Missouri’s -day spring turkey season, shoot- vest to two factors. “Compared to the long-term average, last
ing , birds. The last week’s harvest boosted “We had the usual mixed bag of weather dur- year’s poult-to-hen ratio wasn’t what you would
the regular-season tally to ,, an increase ing the hunting season this year,” says Dailey, the call great,” says Dailey, “but it was slightly better
of  from last year. Missouri Department of Conservation’s turkey than the two previous years. It allowed turkeys
Top harvest counties for the regular season expert. “The opening weekend was pretty rough, to hold their own in many areas and increase in
April  through May  were Franklin with , with lots of wind and rain, and the last Saturday some others.”
Texas with  and St. Clair with . was windy. Other than that, though, conditions Dailey says he was pleased that this year’s
Missouri’s spring turkey season has two parts. were extremely favorable for hunting.” spring harvest did not include a higher-than-
Hunters age  through  shot , turkeys dur- The second factor contributing to this year’s normal percentage of young turkeys. “Jakes,” as
ing the youth season April  and . This boosted better-than-expected turkey harvest was a slight year-old male turkeys are called, made up 
the combined spring turkey harvest to ,, increase in wild turkeys’ nesting success in . percent of this year’s harvest, compared to the
which is , more than last year. The Conservation Department measures nesting historic average of approximately  percent.
Resource Scientist Tom Dailey had predicted success by the number of poults—young tur- “Hunters could have shot more jakes this year
because we had a few more of them than in re-
cent years,” says Dailey. “Apparently the opposite
Upper Mississippi CA Blind Drawing Set For July 17
happened, so we will carry over quite a few jakes
Hunters hoping to get a blind at Upper Mississippi Conservation Area need to be at the St. Charles to next year. That means more -year-old birds
Convention Center July  when the Missouri Department of Conservation holds the drawing for next spring.”
prime hunting spots on the ,-acre wetland area north of St. Louis. Registration will take Dailey says -year-old toms are the ones that
place from  until : a.m., with the drawing at  a.m. The Conservation Department will gobble most, and hunters measure the quality of
provide aerial maps for winning hunters to choose their blind sites as they are drawn. Winners a day’s hunt largely by the presence or absence
also select co-registrants who will occupy the blinds with them. Registrants must be  or older. of gobbling birds. He says the moderate take of
Hunters age  to  are required to bring a  Missouri Small Game Hunting Permit. All par- jakes is a good sign for the future.
ticipants will need a  Migratory Bird Permit, a signed  Federal Migratory Bird Hunting Also a good sign is the return of more moder-
and Conservation Stamp and a photo ID. Drawing winners must also provide names, addresses, ate spring weather. Cold and rain reduce wild
phone numbers, dates of birth and conservation numbers for all co-registrants. Upper Missis- turkey’s nesting success, and the past few years
sippi CA consists of  tracts of federal land between Melvin Price Lock and Dam and LeGrange. have set records for both. Dailey says with more
For more information, call Columbia Bottom Conservation Area at -- or the St. Louis normal weather during the summer there is ev-
Regional Conservation Department Office at --. ery reason to expect the state’s turkey population
to rebound from its current dip.
“I’ve got my fingers crossed,” says Dailey, “and
I’m sure lots of other turkey hunters do, too.”
The spring turkey season pumps tens of mil-
lions of dollars into the state economy. In all, the
economic impact of this spending is more than
$ million annually and supports more than
, jobs.
Black Bullhead Record Falls
Missouri has a new state-record black bullhead,
and Nicholas J. Wray has his second fishing
record in less than two years. Wray, , caught
the -pound, -ounce fish on a jug line April G
N
O
 at a farm pond in Cass County. The bullhead OTH
nudged aside the previous record by  ounces. In OL PA
D
, Wray caught Missouri’s first state-record OPPA
Mallard ducks criavmere cfarorpms uCcaksesr ,C oau nt-yp’os uSnodu,t h -Goruanncde Rfiivsehr ntheaatr HOTOS: N
P
6 Missouri Conservationist June 2010
Amarugia Highlands Conservation Area. He did it
by design, having noticed that no one had both-
ered to apply for a record for the species previously.
The alternative methods category is for fish taken
with trotlines, throw lines, limb lines, bank lines,
tree lines or jug lines or by spearfishing, snagging,
gigging, archery or grabbing (with a hook). Pole-
and-line records are those taken with hand-held
lines. State-record entry forms and rules are avail-
able at www.MissouriConservation.org/72. A
list of Missouri fishing records is available at www.
MissouriConservation.org/69. The Conservation
Department also has a Master Angler Program to
recognize notable catches that fall short of records.
For qualifying lengths and weights, visit www.
MissouriConservation.org./71.
St. Louis WOW Event Has Openings
The St. Louis WOW event July  and  still has
room for families with children  and older who
want to discover the challenge and excitement
of activities from canoeing to rock climbing.
The event in Forest Park also includes outdoor
cooking, camping, fishing, archery and a youth
camp for kids age  through . The cost is $ per
person or $ per family. Financial assistance is
available. Registration continues through June .
Call -- for a registration packet.
Be Bear Prepared
Would you know what to do if you rounded a bend
in a trail and came face to face with a bear? That
Black bear
still is unlikely in Missouri, but the state’s growing
bear population means it is not impossible.
The Conservation Department has confirmed bear is startled or cornered or if a person gets weapon. Black bear attacks have been repelled
bear sightings in  of the state’s  counties. between a sow and her cubs. by people using nothing more than their fists.
Ninety percent of the state’s bears live south of One way to avoid surprising a bear is to make Striking a bear around the face is most effective.
Interstate Highway . Ozark County leads the noise. Talking with companions, whistling, sing- Pepper spray also can stop a bear attack.
state with  bear sightings since . Adjoin- ing or fastening a small bell to your backpack or Aggressive bears usually are those that have
ing Howell and Douglas counties are second clothing is a wise idea in bear country. become accustomed to human presence. This
and third with  and  sightings, respectively. If you see a bear that has not seen you yet, most often occurs through intentional feeding.
Counties with  or more sightings include Carter, leave the area quickly and quietly. If the bear is Never deliberately feed bears or allow them to
Christian, Iron, Reynolds, Shannon, Stone and aware of your presence, avoid eye contact, which raid trash, livestock feeders or other human food
Taney. The cluster of bear sightings in and around bears perceive as aggressive behavior. Look down sources. This puts both people and bears at risk.
Reynolds County extends north as far as Craw- and walk away while speaking in a normal voice. If you see a bear—especially an aggressive
ford, Franklin and Washington counties, each Although attacks by black bears are rare, one—contact your conservation office or your
of which has produced more than  verified they do occur. Bears can run much faster than local sheriff’s department immediately. The Con-
reports since . humans, and they are excellent climbers, so servation Department has specially trained em-
Bears are naturally shy of humans, so most fleeing or climbing a tree is pointless. The most ployees to deal with problem or aggressive bears.
meetings with bears are brief. However, acci- effective strategy is to fight back with whatever For more information about living with bears,
dental bear encounters can be dangerous if the you have—a knife, a rock, a stick or any other visit www.MissouriConservation.org/7835.
June 2010 Missouri Conservationist 7
8 Missouri Conservationist June 2010