Black Bear sightings are becoming more and more common locally. A Black Bear was reportedly hit by a car last week in Lawrence County. The incident happened on highway 117 near Black Rock. The bear was a male cub and weighed about 100 pounds and the Arkansas Game and Fish estimates he was about 2 years old.
Now officials with Ozark National Scenic Riverways say a bear was found dead in Current River near Van Buren on Sunday. The 400 pound bear was found near the Clubhouse. Officials say that campers and hikers should avoid feeding bears and clean their campsites by storing food and trash in a vehicle at night or hang the trash from a tree if you are on the river. If you are camping and floating and see a bear, make noise to ensure it sees and hears you, and make sure it has an escape route. An Autopsy will be done on the bear found in Current River to determine the cause of death.