The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) has announced a new milestone in its Black Bear Program with the capture of M18, a 510-pound black bear in Sharkey County. This remarkable bear has set a new record, surpassing the previous one held by a 468-pound bear found as roadkill in Wilkinson County.

Originally collared in August 2022, M18 weighed 360 pounds at the time but slipped out of his tracking collar shortly after his first capture. This week’s recapture allowed researchers to document his astonishing growth and collect updated data for the program.

“An awesome addition to MDWFP’s Black Bear Program research!” the agency noted, emphasizing the significance of M18’s contribution to their ongoing efforts.

The Black Bear Program plays a critical role in monitoring Mississippi’s black bear population, providing insights into the species’ health, behavior, and habitats. The program is part of MDWFP’s broader conservation efforts to support wildlife and maintain ecological balance across the state.

M18 was safely released after his data was recorded, marking another success story for the program and highlighting the thriving wildlife in Mississippi’s forests.