Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program:
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Black bears (Ursus americanus) are becoming more common in upstate South Carolina. There are established populations in neighboring regions. However, it is unclear how many live in the upstate, their distribution, and how they use the landscape. This poses a management challenge. Black bear hunting is legal in South Carolina, but it is difficult to sustainably manage the population without knowing how many bears are there. The project is a collaboration of researchers and managers, includes the USGS South Carolina Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, Clemson University, and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). Outcomes from this work will inform SCDNR management actions, for example, in determining the black bear hunting season and limits. It will also support our understanding of black bears and their landscape use in upstate South Carolina relative to the neighboring regions.