Vermont wildlife officials studying the reasons for increasing numbers of black bears

For the fourth year in a row, the number of black bears in Vermont far outpaced what the state considers an ideal population size.

Last year, the state had an estimated 6,800 to 8,000 bears, nearly double the objective of 3,500 to 5,500 bears, outlined by a Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department population model. The state calculates its goal for Vermont’s bear population based on a range of variables, including what is healthy for the bears and ecosystem, as well as humans’ attitudes toward the risk of conflict with the animals.

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Why is the population doing so well? There are two big factors that determine population size, said Jaclyn Comeau, the Black Bear Project leader at the state Fish & Wildlife Department: mort