It may come as a surprise to some Missouri residents, but there are black bears in Missouri and, in fact, are native to Missouri. Over the years the bear population in Missouri greatly diminished beginning with the settlement of Missouri and continuing as more and more development took place. However, according to the Missouri Department of Conversation, black bears are making a comeback in Missouri. The department began researching the black bear population in Missouri in 2010 and in 2012 estimated there to be nearly 300 bears in Missouri. The map below shows where bear sightings have occurred in Missouri and, as you would expect, most have been in rural areas but there have even been bear sightings in major metropolitan areas like St Louis and Kansas City. There have been bears spotted in the St Louis area including in Ferguson, Creve Coeur, Arnold, Ballwin, Eureka and Wildwood.

Information on the Missouri Black Bear Project

Report a Bear Sighting

Missouri Black Bear Sighting Map