Bears by the Numbers
The infographic shows the 2014/2015 bear population estimates for each of the seven bear subpopulations with the percent change from the 2002 population estimate. The Big Bend and South Central subpopulations were completed in 2010 and 2011, therefore comparisons are not available.
West Panhandle = 120 bears (50% increase)
East Panhandle = 1,060 bears (86% increase)
North = 500 bears (92% increase)
Central = 1,200 bears (17% increase)
Big Bend = 30 bears
South Central = 100 bears
South = 1,040 bears (49% increase)
Statewide Total = 4,050 (53% increase)
Dated: 03/17/2017
Statewide Bear Data
Figure 1: This bar graph shows the number of statewide bear related calls, and percentage of core and non-core complaints received by FWC from the public from 2006 to 2025, totaling 101,956 calls.
2006 = 2,003 calls (45% Core, 55% Non-Core Complaints), 2007 = 2,329 calls (52% Core, 48% Non-Core Complaints), 2008 = 2,226 calls (54% Core, 46% Non-Core Complaints), 2009 = 2,844 calls (58% Core, 42% Non-Core Complaints), 2010 = 3,227 calls (59% Core, 41% Non-Core Complaints), 2011 = 3,813 calls (54% Core, 46% Non-Core Complaints), 2012 = 5,474 calls (51% Core, 49% Non-Core Complaints), 2013 = 5,345 calls (54% Core, 46% Non-Core Complaints), 2014 = 6,736 calls (47% Core, 53% Non-Core Complaints), 2015 = 6,700 calls (49% Core, 51% Non-Core Complaints), 2016 = 5,999 calls (44% Core, 56% Non-Core Complaints), 2017 = 6,190 calls (47% Core, 53% Non-Core Complaints), 2018 = 5,480 calls (39% Core, 61% Non-Core Complaints), 2019 = 5,390 calls (38% Core, 62% Non-Core Complaints), 2020 = 5,809 calls (40% Core, 60% Non-Core Complaints), 2021 = 5,738 calls (38% Core, 62% Non-Core Complaints), 2022 = 5,923 calls (36% Core, 64% Non-Core Complaints), 2023 = 7,311 calls (39% Core, 61% Non-Core Complaints), 2024 = 5,694 calls (37% Core, 63% Non-Core Complaints), 2025 = 7,724 calls (38% Core, 62% Non-Core Complaints).
Core complaints are conflicts, whereas non-core complaints are interactions that could be positive or negative.
Figure 2: This pie chart shows the reason for statewide bear related calls received by FWC from the public from 2006 to 2025, totaling 101,956 calls.
General Interaction (light blue slice) = 40%; In Garbage (brown slice) = 28%; Property Damage (orange slice) = 11%; Sick/Dead Bear (dark green slice) = 11%; Bear-Animal Encounter (yellow slice) = 4%; Miscellaneous (light grey slice) = 2%; Illegal Activity (dark blue slice) = <2%; In Structure (dark grey slice) = <2% Public Safety Incident (light green slice) = 1%.
Figure 3: This bar graph shows the number of bears killed statewide by either road, management, illegal, harvest, or other causes of death from 2006 to 2025, totaling 5,877 bears.
2006 = 160 bears (143 road, 4 management, 10 illegal, 3 other), 2007 = 205 bears (172 road, 15 management, 11 illegal, 7 other), 2008 = 184 bears (156 road, 13 management, 10 illegal, 5 other), 2009 = 179 bears (135 road, 24 management, 9 illegal, 11 other), 2010 = 211 bears (168 road, 14 management, 18 illegal, 11 other), 2011 = 234 bears (194 road, 18 management, 11 illegal, 11 other), 2012 = 329 bears (285 road, 19 management, 14 illegal, 11 other), 2013 = 283 bears (232 road, 28 management, 14 illegal, 9 other), 2014 = 331 bears (244 road, 55 management, 20 illegal, 12 other), 2015 = 374 bears (248 road, 104 management, 6 illegal, 16 other), 2016 = 307 bears (231 road, 36 management, 19 illegal, 21 other), 2017 = 351 bears (249 road, 59 management, 21 illegal, 22 other), 2018 = 306 bears (242 road, 27 management, 13 illegal, 24 other), 2019 = 305 bears (238 road, 21 management, 20 illegal, 26 other), 2020 = 339 bears (276 road, 20 management, 15 illegal, 28 other), 2021 = 351 bears (291 road, 12 management, 29 illegal, 19 other), 2022 = 334 bears (287 road, 16 management, 17 illegal, 14 other), 2023 = 376 bears (318 road, 17 management, 7 illegal, 34 other), 2024 = 348 bears (296 road, 13 management, 16 illegal, 23 other), 2025 = 371 bears (289 road, 9 management, 29 illegal, 44 other).
North Central Regional Data
Figure 1: This bar graph shows the number of North Central Region bear related calls and percentage of core and non-core complaints received by the FWC from the public from 2016 to 2025, totaling 2,039 calls.
2016 = 106 calls (21% Core, 79% Non-Core Complaints), 2017 = 230 calls (36% Core, 64% Non-Core Complaints), 2018 = 208 calls (42% Core, 58% Non-Core Complaints), 2019 = 171 calls (32% Core, 68% Non-Core Complaints), 2020 = 229 calls (35% Core, 65% Non-Core Complaints), 2021 = 185 calls (29% Core, 71% Non-Core Complaints), 2022 = 204 calls (33% Core, 67% Non-Core Complaints), 2023 = 269 calls (25% Core, 75% Non-Core Complaints), 2024 = 195 calls (29% Core, 71% Non-Core Complaints), 2025 = 242 calls (28% Core, 72% Non-Core Complaints.
Core complaints are conflicts, whereas non-core complaints are interactions that could be positive or negative.
Figure 2: The pie chart shows the reason for North Central Region bear related calls received by the FWC from the public from 2016 to 2025, totaling 2,039 calls.
General Interaction (light blue slice) = 37%; Sick/Dead Bear (dark green slice) = 21%; In Garbage (brown slice) = 14%; Property Damage (orange slice) = 13%; Miscellaneous (light grey slice) = 8%; Illegal Activity (dark blue slice) = 3%; Bear-Animal Encounter (yellow slice) = 2%; In Structure (dark grey slice) = <1%; Public Safety Incident (light green slice) = <1%.
Figure 3: The bar graph shows the number of bears killed by either road, management, illegal, harvest, or other causes of death in the North Central Region from 2016 to 2025, totaling 280 bears.
2016 = 16 bears (15 road, 1 other), 2017 = 24 bears (18 road, 2 management, 2 illegal, 2 other), 2018 = 20 bears (19 road, 1 other), 2019 = 19 bears (17 road, 1 illegal, 1 other), 2020 = 26 bears (24 road, 2 other), 2021 = 26 bears (21 road, 3 illegal, 2 other), 2022 = 34 bears (27 road, 2 management, 2 illegal, 3 other), 2023 = 41 bears (37 road, 4 other), 2024 = 36 bears (33 road, 1 management, 2 other), 2025 = 38 bears (34 road, 1 management, 2 illegal, 1 other).
Northeast Regional Data
Figure 1: The bar graph shows the number of Northeast Region bear related calls, and percentage of core and non-core complaints received by the FWC from the public from 2016 to 2025, totaling 26,594 calls.
2016 = 2,146 calls (45% Core, 55% Non-Core Complaints), 2017 = 2,577 calls (49% Core, 51% Non-Core Complaints), 2018 = 2,187 calls (44% Core, 56% Non-Core Complaints), 2019 = 2,400 calls (39% Core, 61% Non-Core Complaints), 2020 = 2,205 calls (39% Core, 61% Non-Core Complaints), 2021 = 2,922 calls (39% Core, 61% Non-Core Complaints), 2022 = 2,838 calls (33% Core, 67% Non-Core Complaints), 2023 = 3,174 calls (36% Core, 64% Non-Core Complaints), 2024 = 2,616 calls (35% Core, 65% Non-Core Complaints), 2025 = 3,529 calls (38% Core, 62% Non-Core Complaints).
Core complaints are conflicts, whereas non-core complaints are interactions that could be positive or negative.
Figure 2: The pie chart shows the reason for Northeast Region bear related calls received by the FWC from the public from 2016 to 2025, totaling 26,594 calls.
General Interaction (light blue slice) = 39%; In Garbage (brown slice) = 21%; Sick/Dead Bear (dark green slice) = 16%; Property Damage (orange slice) = 11%; Bear-Animal Encounter (yellow slice) = 4%; Illegal Activity (dark blue slice) = 3%; Miscellaneous (light grey slice) = 3%; In Structure (dark grey slice) = 2%; Public Safety Incident (dark blue slice) = 1%.
Figure 3: The bar graph shows the number of bears killed by either road, management, illegal, harvest, or other causes of death in the Northeast Region from 2016 to 2025, totaling 1,779 bears.
2016 = 138 bears (114 road, 12 management, 5 illegal, 7 other), 2017 = 166 bears (128 road, 19 management, 7 illegal, 12 other), 2018 = 147 bears (112 road, 14 management, 8 illegal, 13 other), 2019 = 172 bears (134 road, 11 management, 13 illegal, 14 other), 2020 = 184 bears (148 road, 7 management, 8 illegal, 21 other), 2021 = 225 bears (187 road, 9 management, 18 illegal, 11 other), 2022 = 184 bears (159 road, 8 management, 12 illegal, 5 other), 2023 = 167 bears (139 road, 4 management, 5 illegal, 19 other), 2024 = 188 bears (162 road, 5 management, 8 illegal, 13 other), 2025 = 208 bears (156 road, 2 management, 15 illegal, 35 other).
Northwest Regional Data
Figure 1: This bar graph shows the number of Northwest Region bear related calls, and percentage of core and non-core complaints received by the FWC from the public from 2016 to 2025, totaling 21,729 calls.
2016 = 2,229 (46% Core, 54% Non-Core Complaints), 2017 = 2,477 (47% Core, 53% Non-Core Complaints), 2018 = 1,880 (38% Core, 62% Non-Core Complaints), 2019 = 1,817 (40% Core, 60% Non-Core Complaints), 2020 = 2,337 (45% Core, 55% Non-Core Complaints) , 2021 = 1,840 (40% Core, 60% Non-Core Complaints), 2022 = 1,899 (43% Core, 57% Non-Core Complaints), 2023 = 2,824 (46% Core, 54% Non-Core Complaints), 2024 = 1,840 (42% Core, 58% Non-Core Complaints), 2025 = 2,586 (39% Core, 61% Non-Core Complaints).
Core complaints are conflicts, whereas non-core complaints are interactions that could be positive or negative.
Figure 2: This pie chart shows the reason for Northwest Region bear related calls received by the FWC from the public from 2016 to 2025, totaling 21,729 calls.
General Interaction (light blue slice) = 41%; In Garbage (brown slice) = 28%; Sick/Dead Bear (dark green slice) = 11%; Property Damage (orange slice) = 9%; Bear-Animal Encounter (yellow slice) = 4%; Miscellaneous (light grey slice) = 3%; Illegal Activity (dark blue slice) = 2%; Public Safety Incident (light green slice) = 1%; In Structure (dark grey slice) = 1%.
Figure 3: The bar graph shows the number of bears killed by either road, management, illegal, harvest, or other causes of death in the Northwest Region from 2016 to 2025, totaling 982 bears.
2016 = 119 bears (80 road, 18 management, 12 illegal, 9 other), 2017 = 125 bears (77 road, 35 management, 7 illegal, 6 other), 2018 = 113 bears (88 road, 13 management, 4 illegal, 8 other), 2019 = 76 bears (59 road, 7 management, 6 illegal, 4 other), 2020 = 108 bears (89 road, 12 management, 4 illegal, 3 other), 2021 = 66 bears (61 road, 1 management, 1 illegal, 3 other), 2022 = 76 bears (68 road, 4 management, 2 illegal, 2 other), 2023 = 125 bears (113 road, 7 management, 2 illegal, 3 other), 2024 = 78 bears (65 road, 2 management, 5 illegal, 6 other), 2025 = 96 bears (78 road, 2 management, 9 illegal, 7 other).
Southwest Regional Data
Figure 1: The bar graph shows the number of Southwest Region bear related calls, and percentage of core and non-core complaints received by the FWC from the public from 2016 to 2025, totaling 3,885 calls.
2016 = 302 calls (38% Core, 62% Non-Core Complaints), 2017 = 384 calls (48% Core, 52% Non-Core Complaints), 2018 = 284 calls (29% Core, 71% Non-Core Complaints), 2019 = 353 calls (41% Core, 59% Non-Core Complaints), 2020 = 496 calls (31% Core, 69% Non-Core Complaints), 2021 = 285 calls (26% Core, 74% Non-Core Complaints), 2022 = 348 calls (38% Core, 62% Non-Core Complaints), 2023 = 412 calls (39% Core, 61% Non-Core Complaints), 2024 = 375 calls (35% Core, 65% Non-Core Complaints), 2025 = 646 calls (37% Core, 63% Non-Core Complaints).
Core complaints are conflicts, whereas non-core complaints are interactions that could be positive or negative.
Figure 2: The pie chart shows the reason for Southwest Region bear related calls received by the FWC from the public from 2016 to 2025, totaling 3,885 calls.
General Interaction (light blue slice) = 49%; In Garbage (dark brown slice) = 26%; Miscellaneous (light grey slice) = 8%; Property Damage (orange slice) = 7%; Sick/Dead Bear (dark green slice) = 5%; Bear-Animal Encounter (yellow slice) = 2%; In Structure (dark grey slice) = 1%; Illegal Activity (dark blue slice) = 1%; Public Safety Incident (light green slice) = 1%.
Figure 3: The bar graph shows the number of bears killed by either road, management, illegal, harvest, or other causes of death in the Southwest Region from 2016 to 2025, totaling 65 bears.
2016 = 8 bears (4 road, 1 management, 2 illegal, 1 other), 2017 = 7 bears (6 road, 1 management), 2018 = 7 bears (7 road), 2019 = 8 bears (8 road), 2020 = 5 bears (5 road), 2021 = 5 bears (3 road, 2 illegal), 2022 = 5 bears (3 road, 2 other), 2023 = 11 bears (11 road), 2024 = 6 bears (5 road, 1 illegal), 2025 = 3 bears (3 road).
South Regional Data
Figure 1: The bar graph shows the number of South Region bear related calls, and percentage of core and non-core complaints received by the FWC from the public from 2016 to 2025, totaling 6,129 calls.
2016 = 345 calls (44% Core, 56% Non-Core Complaints), 2017 = 521 calls (46% Core, 54% Non-Core Complaints), 2018 = 919 calls (34% Core, 66% Non-Core Complaints), 2019 = 649 calls (34% Core, 66% Non-Core Complaints), 2020 = 540 calls (35% Core, 65% Non-Core Complaints) 2021 = 507 calls (33% Core, 67% Non-Core Complaints), 2022 = 628 calls (25% Core, 75% Non-Core Complaints), 2023 = 628 calls (27% Core, 73% Non-Core Complaints), 2024 = 663 calls (32% Core, 68% Non-Core Complaints), 2025 = 729 calls (34% Core, 66% Non-Core Complaints).
Core complaints are conflicts, whereas non-core complaints are interactions that could be positive or negative.
Figure 2: The pie chart shows the reason for South Region bear related calls received by the FWC from the public from 2016 to 2025, totaling 6,129 calls.
General Interaction (light blue slice) = 48%; In Garbage (brown slice) = 21%; Sick/Dead Bear (dark green slice) = 14%; Property Damage (orange slice) = 7%; Miscellaneous (light grey slice) =3%; Public Safety Incident (light green slice) = 2%; Bear-Animal Encounter (yellow slice) = 2%; In Structure (dark grey slice) = 2%; Illegal Activity (dark blue slice) = 1%.
Figure 3: The bar graph shows the number of bears killed by either road, management, illegal, harvest, or other causes of death in the South Region from 2016 to 2025, totaling 281 bears.
2016 = 26 bears (18 road, 5 management, 3 other), 2017 = 29 bears (20 road, 2 management, 5 illegal, 2 other), 2018 = 19 bears (16 road, 1 illegal, 2 other), 2019 = 30 bears (20 road, 3 management, 7 other), 2020 = 16 bears (10 road, 1 management, 3 illegal, 2 other) 2021 = 29 bears (19 road, 2 management, 5 illegal, 3 other), 2022 = 35 bears (30 road, 2 management, 1 illegal, 2 other), 2023 = 31 bears (18 road, 6 management, 7 other), 2024 = 40 bears (31 road, 5 management, 2 illegal, 2 other), 2025 = 26 bears (18 road, 4 management, 3 illegal, 1 other).
To learn more about Bears by the Numbers in your area visit the Bear Management Unit (BMU) webpages.
Geographic Data
This map includes detailed bear-related data dating back to 1980 and as recent as 2 months prior to current date. This map includes the current year’s data but has not been thoroughly assessed for accuracy and is subject to change.
Terrestrial Resources GIS Online Map
This map includes bear, wildlife, and other habitat data and does not contain the current year’s bear-related data. The data in this map has been thoroughly assessed for accuracy.