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The Pennsylvania Game Commission is undertaking a major statewide study of black bears, aiming to collar 160 animals per year through the winters of 2028 and 2029.
Researchers are fitting bears with GPS collars to track their movements across the state. According to TribLive, the effort is designed to give wildlife managers a clearer picture of the black bear population, including survival rates and how the animals use their habitats.
Black bears are found throughout Pennsylvania, but their numbers are highest in the north-central and northeast regions of the state. Still, they remain a common sight in southwestern Pennsylvania, including the greater Uniontown area and surrounding Fayette County communities.
The multi-year study reflects growing interest in managing bear populations responsibly. By gathering precise data on where bears roam, how long they live, and how they interact with their environment, the Game Commission hopes to make more informed decisions about conservation and public safety going forward.
The study runs through the end of the 2028–2029 winter season, giving researchers several years of data to analyze before drawing conclusions about the long-term health of Pennsylvania's black bear population.