Discover the Largest Bear Ever Identified in Alabama

There are three different types of bears in North America, or different species if you will. Among them, the American black bear is the most common. It is known that historically, black bears roamed throughout a limited region of Alabama. Therefore, over the years, there have been a few pretty interesting bears that have been captured or harvested. In fact, one of the largest bears ever killed in Alabama was done so pretty recently. 

Are you curious about one of the biggest bears identified in the heart of the Dixie? Let’s explore black bears and learn some more fascinating facts!

The Largest Bear Ever Identified in Alabama

How Records Are Calculated

In 1887, with growing concerns over the possibility of losing hunting privileges and wildlife populations such as bison and elk being hunted to the brink of extinction, Theodore Roosevelt and others founded the Boone and Crockett Club for the purposes of conservation and wildlife management. This group also sets guidelines for and maintains trophy hunting records for big game animals, including the black bear.

So, when it comes to determining what garners a trophy record for black bears, the focus is not on the body size or weight of the animal but rather on its skull size. Scores are tallied based on the greatest length and greatest width of the skull measured to the nearest 1/16 of an inch and then added together; there is no reduction of fractions. A score above 21 for the black bear is in all-time record territory.

The score chart for the black bears states the following:

• Greatest length is measured between perpendiculars parallel to the long axis of the skull, without the lower jaw and excluding malformations
• Greatest width is measured between perpendiculars at right angles to the long axis

Consequently, hunters do not always report an animal’s weight as it is not a factor taken into account by Boone & Crockett for the organization’s trophy hunting records.

The Largest Bear Ever Identified in Alabama

No one has harvested a black bear in Alabama and submitted a score chart to Boone & Crockett because it’s illegal to hunt bears in Alabama. There have been some bears sightings, however, and it is expected that they may become more frequent.

Back in June 2016, a black bear was found wandering around downtown Opelika. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Auburn University worked together to capture the male bear, which was then released back into the wild in Macon County after being fitted with a radio-tracking collar. Sadly, that fall, the Department of Conservation reported that someone had killed the bear in the Talladega National Forest in Clay County. The bear weighed 315 pounds.

In 2018, Dr. Todd Steury and graduate students from Auburn University were interviewed by The Cullman Tribune about a multiple-year study they conducted on the black bear population in Alabama. One of the graduate students, Chris Seals, mentioned that during the course of the research, the university captured and released a black bear in southwest Alabama who was reported to have weighed 308 pounds.

Seals also stated that he had seen one that he estimated to be 400 pounds in weight. However, he continued, most of the black bears the research team has captured and released typically weigh about 150 pounds.

Black Bear Types and Appearance

The majority of Alabama’s black bear population historically lived in Mobile, Washington, and Clarke counties in the southwest. These bears are the Florida subspecies, Ursus americanus floridanus, and while they’re rare here, they’re quite plentiful elsewhere in Florida. However, the black bear population in northeast Alabama has steadily increased over the past few years, mainly in DeKalb, Cherokee, and Etowah counties.

This subspecies of black bear looks very similar to the Florida bear but is classified as a different species: Ursus americanus americanus. Additionally, sporadic bear sightings throughout the state have been documented, suggesting that Alabama’s black bear population is increasing slowly. A typical black bear in Alabama has brown-flecked dark fur, elongated nonretractable claws, and distinct white markings on the chest. It has been reported that they can weigh up to 440 pounds. In general, males weigh around 300-350 pounds and have a maximum length of six feet. A female averages 120-160 pounds in weight with a height of nearly five feet.

Black Bear Habitat

As we mentioned above, black bears are not typically found all throughout the state of Alabama. For the most part, these bears typically roam throughout the southwestern portions of the state. 

Alabama’s black bear population is primarily restricted to Baldwin, Mobile, and Washington counties.  The presence of bears in several northeast counties has been confirmed; however, they are suspected of being transient bears from other southeastern states.

The black bear thrives in forested areas with a mixture of hardwoods and pines. As a result of the dense undergrowth and thickets provided by these trees, both food and cover for the animals can be found in them.  Moreover, they feed on a wide range of foods in small open meadows surrounded by forests.  It is also possible for these bears to find additional sources of food and water in the scattered wetlands, streams, and ponds located throughout the region.  There are large areas of land required by black bears that have not been disturbed by man.  The average male bear roams over 15,000 acres, while the average female bear roams less than 2,600 acres.

How Many Black Bears Are There in Alabama?

In a recent Auburn University study, two subgroups of bears were identified in Alabama. In northeast Alabama, a smaller group of around 30 animals lives in Little River Canyon. This area is near Fort Payne. An estimated 85 bears live in southwest Alabama. Most of them are located in Mobile and Washington counties. However, it is possible that there are 165 bears in the southwest group. Since 2019, the number of black bears in north Alabama has more than doubled, according to Todd Steury, associate professor of wildlife ecology at Auburn University. According to our previous explanation, the northern group of bears migrated into Alabama from North Georgia over time.

Are Black Bears Dangerous?

Like all wild animals, black bears can react in an unpredictable way. However, black bears are typically not aggressive. The species rarely attack humans without provocation throughout its range. A large majority of attacks have been caused by humans who surprise, corner, or otherwise threaten the animals. Maintaining a safe distance from a black bear is the best course of action to avoid a confrontation. If you are hiking in wilderness areas, make noise so that unseen bears cannot surprise you. You should secure garbage cans around your home and place food well out of reach. It is believed that black bears can smell food over a mile away and they prefer human food because it is more calorie dense. After removing food sources from an area, a habituated black bear may take a few days or even weeks to stop visiting.