BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Although bear sightings have been up in recent years, it’s tough to get an exact population.
Vermont’s black bear population is estimated at roughly 6,300 to 7,600 based on 2023 data, the most recent available, according to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. That is down from 2022’s 7,000 to 8,500 estimate, which was a five-year high.
In this week’s Wildlife Watch, Ike Bendavid spoke with Vermont Fish and Willdlife’s Jacklyn Comeau and Katherina Gieder about how the department comes up with its bear population model.