Gazebo Gazette
The Hancock/Harrison County Forestry and Wildlife Association will host a Black Bear Program in Mississippi workshop on October 18th at the Lyman Community Center located at 13742 Hwy 49 North in Gulfport (located just north of Tractor Supply). The costs for the program is free to current members, $10 Individual (non-membership), $20 Individual (includes membership), or $30 Couples (includes memberships). Mr. Richard Rummel, Black Bear Program leader with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, will be the guest speaker.
Richard has been with the agency since 1997, served as acting Black Bear Program leader since 2013, and became program leader in early 2017. During his time with the Black Bear Program he has logged bear sightings, helped resolve conflicts between bears and humans and investigated bear deaths in the state. The MDWFP Black Bear Program began in June of 2002. At the time of the program’s inception, it was estimated that there were less than 50 bears residing in the state. Today, estimates of our bear population have more than tripled. Mississippi is home to two subspecies of black bears, the American black bear and the Louisiana black bear, both classified as Endangered under Mississippi law.
Registration for the program begins at 5:30 PM with the program beginning at 6:00 PM with a meal provided. To preregister, contact Tim Ray at Harrison County Extension at 228-865-4227 or tim.ray@msstate.edu.
