Discover the Largest Bear Ever Caught in Rhode Island

Written by Patrick Sather
Published: January 12, 2023
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Rhode Island ranks as the smallest state in the United States and the seventh-least populous. However, this tiny state boasts the second-highest population density in the country. With so many people crammed into such a small space, it’s easy to overlook Rhode Island’s natural beauty. This would be a mistake, given Rhode Island boasts incredible ecological diversity within such a small space. Rhode Island contains numerous sandy beaches and islands off its shoreline, hence its nickname, The Ocean State. The state also possesses a rare type of rock (Cumberlandite) that is found only in the state!

Many different animals make Rhode Island their home. The list of animals found in Rhode Island includes the harbor seal, striped bass, and quahog, a type of clam. Rhode Island is also home to a small population of transient bears. The native bear population of Rhode Island disappeared around the year 1800. However, bears have slowly made a comeback in southern England over the past few decades. With this in mind, let’s discover the largest bear ever caught in Rhode Island.

The Largest Bear Ever Caught in Rhode Island

Black bears

Few records exist that provide accurate information on bear kills and recorded measurements.

©BGSmith/Shutterstock.com

The largest bear ever caught in Rhode Island remains a disputed topic of conversation. When European settlers arrived in Rhode Island in 1636, they encountered myriad wild carnivores, including wolves, mountain lions, and bears. Over the next 160 years, settlers moved into every corner of the state. Subsequently, the clearing of forests for agriculture and the absence of hunting regulations led to the complete eradication of bears in Rhode Island by 1800. Few records exist from this time that provides accurate information on bear kills and recorded measurements. Therefore, a bear killed over 200 years ago likely holds the record for the largest bear ever caught in Rhode Island.

In recent years, several Rhode Island residents have captured black bears on video or with cameras. Most of these bears wandered into people’s yards to scavenge food from dumpsters or bird feeders. The largest bears captured on camera looked around 5 feet long and likely weighed between 250 and 300 pounds. Authorities warn people not to put out bird feeders or leave out food, as this can attract hungry bears. Over time, bears can get familiar with the practice, which can increase the likelihood of an attack. 

Bears in Rhode Island: Types and Appearance

The only native bears found in Rhode Island are American black bears (Ursus americanus). The other bears in North America – grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) and polar bears (Ursus maritimus) – are not historically found in Rhode Island. Similarly, the Kodiak bear (Ursus arctos middendorffi), a subspecies of grizzly bear, lives only on the islands off southwest Alaska.

The American black bear features a broad skull, narrow muzzle, and large jaw. It has round, erect ears and a small, barely visible tail. Females tend to sport smaller, more narrow features and frames than males. Black bears vary in size depending on their age, sex, and season. Overall, males measure larger than females, and older bears measure larger than younger bears. Bears put on weight during the summer and fall months in preparation for the lean winter months. Therefore, a bear encountered during fall will undoubtedly weigh more than a bear encountered in spring. On average, black bears range from 90 to 500 pounds and are between 3 and 5 feet long. However, exceptionally larger bears can weigh up to 700 pounds and stand over 7 feet tall.

As their name implies, most black bears possess a thick, black coat and a brown muzzle. However, considerable variations in coat color exist amongst black bears in different ranges. In addition to black, some American black bears can appear cinnamon, blonde, blue-gray, or dark brown.

Bears in Rhode Island: Habitat

You can find American black bears throughout much of North America. The vast majority of black bears live in the United States and Canada. In particular, large populations of black bears exist in the western, northcentral, and northeastern United States. You can also find smaller populations in the southwestern and southeastern United States and Mexico. Meanwhile, the American Midwest hosts few-to-no bears, depending on the state. Black bears live in a wide variety of climates, including forests, woodlands, wetlands and swamps, and mountainous regions. They prefer areas with lots of trees that they can climb and use to make their dens.

Most black bear sightings in Rhode Island occur close to the Connecticut and Massachusetts borders. In 2022 alone, the Rhode Island Department of Environment Management (DEM) received 8 confirmed reports of black bear sightings. These sightings occurred in Exeter, North Smithfield, West Warwick, Richmond, and South Kingston.

How Many Bears Are There in Rhode Island?

black bear

Experts estimate that less than five bears live in Rhode Island.

©Jim Cumming/Shutterstock.com

No one knows for sure how many black bears live in Rhode Island. According to expert estimates, you can find approximately 10 black bears in Rhode Island at any one time. Some experts estimate that the population could be even lower at around 5 bears. One sighting claimed to report seeing a mother bear with cubs, but no evidence suggests black bears breed in the state. As a result, many experts believe that the bears found in Rhode Island are transient juveniles from neighboring states. Furthermore, most researchers agree that bear sightings in Rhode Island frequently reference the same few bears. This means that a single bear may be responsible for multiple bear sightings. A single male black bear can control a territory between 15 and 80 square miles. Given that Rhode Island only contains 1,214 square miles, a single bear can control a large chunk of the state’s landmass.

Although black bears are practically absent from Rhode Island, they enjoy a widespread distribution throughout North America. According to experts, approximately 800,000 black bears live in North America. Given its widespread distribution, the IUCN lists the American black bear as a species of Least Concern.

Rhode Island requires you to obtain a hunting license before you may hunt, pursue, take, or kill a wild animal. With a valid license, Rhode Island permits both residents and non-residents to hunt in designated state management hunting areas. However, Rhode Island does not issue any permits to hunt bears, making bear hunting illegal in the state. Rhode Island state law explicitly names the animals that you can hunt with a license. By leaving bears off this list, the state effectively makes bear hunting de facto illegal. That said, you may be able to get a special permit to hunt bears in Rhode Island. To obtain a special permit, you would need to reach out to the DEM. In some circumstances, states that forbid hunting carnivores may issue permits to eliminate “nuisance” or “problem” animals.

Are Bears Dangerous?

It should go without saying that bears can pose a danger to humans. Bears represent the largest and most dominant land carnivores in North America. Although they measure smaller than grizzly bears or polar bears, a small black bear could easily overpower an exceptionally strong human. Meanwhile, a large adult black bear can knock over small trees and break a cow’s back with a swipe of its paw. However, despite these dangers, you likely have little to fear if you encounter a black bear in the wild. The odds of being attacked by a bear stand at around 1 in 2.1 million. At those odds, you have better odds of dying from a bee sting than a bear. 

If you encounter a black bear in the wild, remain calm. More than likely, the bear will either ignore you or leave you alone. However, if the bear moves in your direction, stand up and wave your arms over your head to make yourself appear taller. Bears don’t have great eyesight, so you want to make yourself look as big as possible. Look directly at the bear, and – whatever you do – don’t turn around and run away. Running from a bear can trigger its predatory behavior. Unlike with a grizzly, you don’t want to play dead around a black bear. Black bears are scavengers, so playing dead will likely just make you look like an easy meal. If a black bear charges you, shout loudly to try and startle the bear. If you have to, put objects such as a tree, vehicle, or boulder between yourself and the bear. 

Conclusion

It’s impossible to crown a winner for the record of the largest black bear ever caught in Rhode Island. The lack of records prior to 1800 and then a long absence of black bears in the state means that we’ll likely never know which bear found in the state measured the largest. While black bear sightings occasionally occur in the state, most claims concern transient juveniles from neighboring states. Still, it never hurts to keep your wits if you decide to hike in the areas bears like to frequent in Rhode Island.

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The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Mark Lee


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