Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Louisiana Black bear (Ursus americanus luteolus)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ursidae

Listing Status:   

General Information

The Louisiana black bear is one of sixteen recognized subspecies of the American black bear U. americanus (Hall, 1981). This species was formerly widespread in North America, from northern Alaska, including Newfoundland, south to central northern Mexico (Lowrey, 1981). The Louisiana black bear is distinguished from other black bears by possessing a skull that is longer, more narrow, and flat, and by possessing proportionately large molar teeth (Nowak, 1986). Black bears are huge, bulky mammals with long black hair. Although weight varies considerably, large males may weigh more than 6OO pounds.

Lead Region:  Southeast Region (Region 4)
Date Listed: Jan 7, 1992

  • States/US Territories in which the Louisiana Black bear is known to occur:  Louisiana , Mississippi , Texas
  • USFWS Refuges in which the Louisiana Black bear is known to occur:  ATCHAFALAYA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , BAYOU COCODRIE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , CADDO LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , CAT ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , CENTRAL LOUISIANA REFUGES COMPLEX  ... Show All Refuges

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 9 : view all)
Date Citation Page Title
03/10/2009 74 FR 10349 10409 Designation of Critical Habitat for the Louisiana Black Bear (Ursus americanus luteolus); Final Rule
05/06/2008 73 FR 25353 25395 Designation of Critical Habitat for the Louisiana Black Bear (Ursus americanus luteolus): Proposed rule.
08/02/2007 72 FR 42425 42426 5-Year Review of Nine Southeastern Species
12/02/1993 58 FR 63560 63563 ETWP; Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for the Louisiana Black Bear
01/07/1992 57 FR 588 595 ETWP; Threatened Status for the Louisiana Black Bear and Related Rules
Most Recent Special Rule Publications (Showing 2 of 2 )
Date Citation Page Title
01/07/1992 57 FR 588 595 ETWP; Threatened Status for the Louisiana Black Bear and Related Rules
06/21/1990 55 FR 25341 25345 ETWP; Proposed Threatened Status for the Louisiana Black Bear. Proposed Designation of Threatened by Similarity of Appearnace of all Bears of the species Ursus americanus Within the Historic Range of U. a. luteolus; 55 FR 25341 25345

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
09/27/1995 Louisiana Black Bear View Implementation Progress Final
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 1 of 1 )
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
08/02/2007 72 FR 42425 42426 5-Year Review of Nine Southeastern Species
  • Notice 5-year Review, Initiation

    • » Critical Habitat

    Current Critical Habitat Documents (Showing 3 of 3 )
    Date Citation Page Title Document Type Status
    03/10/2009 74 FR 10349 10409 Designation of Critical Habitat for the Louisiana Black Bear (Ursus americanus luteolus); Final Rule Final Rule Active
    05/06/2008 73 FR 25353 25395 Designation of Critical Habitat for the Louisiana Black Bear (Ursus americanus luteolus): Proposed rule. Proposed Rule Not Required
    12/02/1993 58 FR 63560 63563 ETWP; Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for the Louisiana Black Bear Proposed Rule Not Required

    To learn more about critical habitat please see http://criticalhabitat.fws.gov

    » Conservation Plans

    No conservation plans have been created for Louisiana Black bear

    » Petitions

    Most Recent Petition Findings (Showing 2 of 2 )
    Date Citation Page Title Finding
    08/10/1989 54 FR 32833 32835 ETWP; Notice of Finding on Petition to List the Louisana Black Bear; 54 FR 32833 32835
  • Notice 12 month petition finding, Warranted but precluded
    • 08/19/1988 53 FR 31723 31725 Notice of Findings on Petitions to List Louisiana Black Bear, Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit, & Sherman's Fox Squirrel; 53 FR 31723-31725
  • Notice 12 month petition finding, Warranted but precluded
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Substantial

    • » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: November 22, 2009