Most of the sightings are in the west and southwestern parts of the state. In Del Rio, a black bear sow and her cub wandered into someone's yard.
Jonah Evans is the state mammalogist with Texas Parks and Wildlife.
"Unfortunately, the mother bear was in someone's yard and was shot. We ended up with an orphan bear cub that we brought up to a rehabilitation site in New Mexico."
Evans says Texas Game Wardens are investigating the bear shooting. He says the cub will later be released back into the wild in Texas.
He says black bears, in most cases, are not a danger to people. Evans says, "In 120 years in the lower 48 states, there have been fewer than 20 fatal attacks by bears. Compare that to 20 fatal attacks yearly by domestic dogs. Other cities throughout the country have found ways to peacefully live with area bear populations, and we can do the same in Texas."
Evans says black bears are a protected species in Texas. He says if you see a bear, stay away and don't try to feed it.
Also, Evans says don't run from the black bear. Instead, he suggests slowly backing away.
He also advises making loud noises to try to scare it away. Evans says if you are in an urban or developed area, and a bear exhibits aggressive behavior toward humans or causes property damage, notify your local police or sheriff dispatch immediately and request that they contact the local TPWD Biologist or Game Warden.
Evans also recommends keeping trash bags in a secure location until the morning of our trash is picked up. Also, feed your pets inside.