Discover the Largest Bear Ever Caught in Nebraska

When most people think of Nebraska, they think of endless fields of corn, football, or Warren Buffett. However, the state also boasts a variety of native plants and animals. In total, around 80 mammal species, 63 amphibian and reptile species, and over 400 bird species make their home in Nebraska. Some of the state’s largest mammals include bison, bighorn sheep, coyotes, and mountain lions. While bears used to live in Nebraska, most were gone from the state by the early 20th century. Still, every once in a while, reports come in of bear sightings in the rural regions. Let’s discover the largest bear ever caught in Nebraska and see if any of these bear rumors hold water.

The Largest Bear Ever Caught in Nebraska

There is no known record holder for the largest bear ever caught in Nebraska. Prior to the most recent sighting in 2008, the last verified bear sighting in Nebraska occurred in 1907. For the next 100 years, not a single bear was reported in the state. However, that streak officially ended on May 12, 2008. On that day, authorities of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) got a strange call. The owner of a ranch north of the town of Harrison in Sioux County reported that he had trapped a bear in his barn.

Upon arriving at the scene, the NGPC agents agreed to put the bear down, given that the bear displayed no signs of fearing humans. Agents estimated the bear’s age to be between 15 and 16 months old. Most likely, the bear originated somewhere in Wyoming and wandered into western Nebraska. This particular bear possessed a distinctive cinnamon-colored coat and weighed 90 pounds. There have been additional reports of bear sightings in the state since 2008. However, there have been no confirmed sightings.

Bear Species in Nebraska

Until the early 19th century, American black bears (Ursus americanus) and grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) could be found in Nebraska. You can easily differentiate a grizzly bear from a black bear. Unlike grizzly bears, which have an obvious shoulder hump, black bears feature no such hump. Similarly, while grizzly bears possess a dished face profile, black bears have a straight face profile. The claws of a grizzly bear are significantly longer than those of a black bear. Grizzly bear claws measure 2 to 4 inches on average, while black bear claws average around 1.5 inches. When you examine their paw prints, you’ll notice that a grizzly bear’s front toes appear closer together compared to those of a black bear.

Size and color are two of the most obvious differences that separate grizzly bears from black bears. Most black bears have a dense, glossy black coat. However, some black bears can appear cinnamon-colored, such as the Nebraska bear that was recovered in 2008. Other color variations include gray-blue, blonde, or dark brown. Grizzly bears grow a shaggy brown coat tipped with white, hence the name grizzly from “grizzled.” They may also look blonde, reddish-blond, or almost black.

A typical black bear weighs anywhere from 90 to 500 pounds, with the largest specimens reaching up to 700 pounds. Grizzly bears weigh between 400 and 800 pounds on average. However, the largest grizzly bear ever weighed approximately 1,200 pounds, significantly more than the largest black bear. 

Nebraska Bear Habitats

Typically, a black bear controls a home range of around 15 square miles or more. They may move around during the year to find food, but generally stay within their home range. However, young males and females may wander to find new territory or a mate. You can find black bears in wetlands, near rivers or lakes with riparian vegetation, and in hardwood forests. They occur at high and low elevations and primarily live in areas with plenty of trees. In general, black bears avoid grasslands and arid deserts. Grizzly bears are often found in forests, woodlands, meadows, and prairies. They commonly live in alpine and sub-alpine terrain but also live on the tundra. Like black bears, they often live in riparian zones near rivers. 

Throughout history, most bears in Nebraska lived in a few regions. The vast majority of black bears in the state lived along the Missouri River. The areas along the river provided these black bears with plenty of cover and food. However, you could also find black bears in the northern part of the state near the South Dakota border. The few grizzly bears in Nebraska lived in the far western part of the state near the Wyoming and Colorado borders. Generally speaking, bears avoided the central Great Plains region of the state. The lack of trees in the plains made these areas unsuitable for bears.

How Many Bears Are There in Nebraska?

For generations, local Native American tribes such as the Omaha, Ponca, and Winnebago hunted bears for food, fat, and fur. The bear population remained relatively stable for thousands of years. That all changed with the arrival of European settlers. Although scouting parties and explorers visited Nebraska in the 17th and 18th centuries, the first permanent settlements were not established until the early 19th century. However, within just a few short decades, these settlers either drove the bears out of the state or killed them.

Due to overhunting, bears were effectively extirpated from Nebraska by the early 20th century. Although Nebraska does not have an official bear population, bears occasionally reappear in the state. Records show the capture of five bears in the state since 1812 and about twice as many sightings. However, these bears did not originate in Nebraska. They most likely wandered in from neighboring states such as Wyoming or South Dakota. While one or two bears may live in Nebraska at any time, this estimate is difficult to prove. As a result, authorities list the official bear population of Nebraska as zero.