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Study focused on Panhandle Black Bears gets big picture results
news
April 24, 2024
Study focused on Panhandle Black Bears gets big picture results
By JENA DONNELL,

After decades of being cast from the state, American black bears have slowly but steadily returned to Oklahoma’s landscape, including Cimarron County’s Black Mesa region. To answer questions about the status and origin of these bears, a graduate student from Oklahoma State University spent two summers setting up a series of camera traps and hair snares and got big picture results.

An estimated 26 black bears are thought to occur in Cimarron County and are genetically similar to those found in northeastern New Mexico.

Genetic testing, along with the somewhat even mix of males and females documented during the study, supports the prediction that black bears are well-established in Oklahoma’s Panhandle and are using the edges of their range during periods of drought conditions. Photos of a sow bear with two small cubs were also captured, providing evidence of a breeding population within the Black Mesa region and further support that Oklahoma’s Panhandle population is well-established.

A Hands-Off Approach Panhandle Black Bears “Captured” with Remote Camera Traps To arrive at this estimate of a few dozen bears roaming Cimarron County, Kleeberg spent the summers of 2022 and 2023 meeting with landowners, investigating the available habitat, and deploying camera traps within 160 grids, each 1,500-acres in size.

In each grid, a motion- triggered trail camera was attached to a tree or t-post about a foot and a half from the ground, facing north. Kleeberg’s team would then assess the available habitat within a twoacre area surrounding the camera, measuring the percent juniper cover, the number of prickly pear cacti and ant mounts available, and the amount of fallen logs or other woody debris on the ground – all of which could equate to a source of food for the bears. After the habitat data had been collected, rocks and logs were then piled about 15 feet in front of the camera and one of four scents – either a skunk-based, beaver, blueberry, or anise oil lure – was added to the pile to attract bears to the camera trap. If triggered, the camera would take a burst of three photos.

“We saw bears of every color on camera,” Kleeberg said. “There were multiple blonde bears, and even a couple of cinnamon bears. It was cool to see bears with unique pelage patterns moving up and down the river.”

Cameras were deployed at each site for at least 28 days, sometimes longer if there were camera or card failures. Daily routes were established so that each camera was checked every seven days to make sure it was still functioning, to see if any bears had been detected, and to replenish scent lures. Because of the region’s rough terrain, drive time between the sites, and time spent hiking to individual stations, Kleeberg’s team would sometimes be able to check only six cameras a day. But in less rugged areas of the county, they would be able to visit as many as 20 cameras in a day.

Of the 160 camera traps deployed between the two summers, 20 sites captured black bears. For the sites where zero bears were detected in four weeks’ time, the camera was moved to another grid and deployed for another 28 days until a total of 80 sites had been “trapped” each summer. But if a bear was detected on camera, another trap would be set – this time made of barbed wire – in hopes of collecting hair samples for DNA testing. These “hair snares” consisted of a single strand of barbed wire that would be stretched low around the scent pile next to the camera and at as many other scent piles as could be established within three-quarters of a mile from the camera.

Hawg Day chefs receive high praise from judges
A: Main, news
Hawg Day chefs receive high praise from judges
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
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Whole Hawg cook-off competition judges Eddie Hartwick and Robert Campbell could not praise this year’s chefs highly enough at the end of this year’s judging. They could have been judging the entire we...
A: Main, news
Drowning reported
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A 59-year-old Oklahoma City woman drowned on Lake Eufaula Friday afternoon, July 25. According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Michele Watson stopped her 2025 Crest Tritoon in the middle of the lake n...
A: Main, news
Main Street to be discussed at open house
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What: City Hall Open House When: Friday, Aug. 8, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Where: Eufaula City Hall, 64 Memorial Dr. Who: Open to the public – visit with Chief Carmack, City Manager Foos, and ODOT staff. Why: L...
Major donation helps keep K9s safe
A: Main, news
Major donation helps keep K9s safe
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
July 30, 2025
On Sept. 15, 2021, K9 officer Tito tragically died from the heat after being accidentally locked in a police vehicle during training on a hot sum- mer day. While the handler was out of the car, he lef...
Rescue boat launched
A: Main, news
Rescue boat launched
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
July 30, 2025
In November 2023, No. 9 Marina CEO Barry Hadlock donated an almost-new pontoon boat to the Eufaula to be used as a rescue boat. The boat had been damaged in a tornado that blew through Norman and hit ...
news
First day of school Thursday, Aug. 14
July 30, 2025
The start of the 2025-26 school year is two weeks away, on Thursday, Aug. 14, but there is plenty to keep students, parents and school personnel busy between now and then. The important dates posted b...
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August is fund-raising month for Lake Dog
By SHARI WILKINS 
July 30, 2025
Help Lake Dog support our local K9 officers who have limited funds to pay for vet bills, food and tactical gear. We appreciate the services provided by these officers. Please join Lake Dog in supporti...
news
PTO hosts Back-to-School Bash Aug. 12
July 30, 2025
The Ironhead Parent Teach Organization will host its annual Back-to-School Bash Tuesday, Aug. 12 at the Eufaula Middle School gym from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. For more information contact PRO president...
Black market marijuana seized in District 15
Opinions
Black market marijuana seized in District 15
By REP. TIM TURNER 
July 30, 2025
Black market marijuana has created a Wild West scenario in Oklahoma. These are stats given to me by the Haskell County sheriff on seizures within the last six months in Haskell County. He’s shut down ...
She’s not trying to
Opinions
She’s not trying to
July 30, 2025
She’s not trying to be difficult. She’s just done narrating her life to look a certain way to make you feel more comfortable while she remains miserable. She’s not trying to be melancholy or moody. Sh...
A Night of Heroes and Hope
Opinions
A Night of Heroes and Hope
By JOE DORMAN OICA CEO 
July 30, 2025
OKLAHOMA CITY – On Saturday, July 26, the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) held our annual Heroes Ball Gala at OKANA Water Park and Resort. The event drew nearly 500 people who support our...
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