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Black bears are returning to Texas

03:46

By the mid-1900s, black bears were becoming increasingly rare in Far West Texas. Their decline was driven by several factors, including ranchers who shot and trapped the wild animals, and a loss of habitat through development.

But beginning in the 1980s, the animal started to return in small numbers, and today's bear sightings are regular occurrences. Is Texas ready for black bears?

NPR's Carlos Morales reports.

This segment aired on December 10, 2025.

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