A black bear that had been spotted several times in the Festus area this month was struck by a vehicle and killed by a vehicle Tuesday night, May 23, authorities reported.
Festus Police were notified at 9:10 p.m. that a bear had been struck by a vehicle and was lying in the median of I-55 south of Hwy. A. Whoever struck the animal did not stop, Chief Doug Wendel said.
When Festus Police arrived, the bear was dead, and the Missouri Department of Conservation removed its remains from the median, he said.
Wendel said he heard the bear was pretty large.
Festus Police, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and a conservation agent had been checking the area around Hillcrest and American Legion drives in Festus, as well as the area around I-55 and Hwy. 67 that day after several sightings May 22-23.
Festus Police received a call about a bear sighting at about 6 a.m. May 22, Wendel said.
“A man said he saw a bear walking through his neighbor’s yard,” Wendel said. “We sent officers over, but it was gone by the time they got there.”
Throughout the day, people posted on Facebook that they had seen the bear at different locations around the Twin City area. Wendell said none of his officers ever spotted the bear.
Dan Zarlenga, Missouri Department of Conservation spokesman, said the bear was last confirmed to be alive at 7 p.m. and his department received reports of the bear being struck at 8:50 p.m. There were no eyewitness reports of the bear being struck, he said.
Zarlenga said the bear’s body was banged up so much authorities couldn’t confirm its gender, but based on its behavior, they believe it was a male.
He said the body is being taken to a wildlife veterinary lab in Columbia so more information about it can be gathered.
Zarlenga suspects it was the same bear spotted a week ago south of Festus based on the location, the size of the bear and the reddish tint of the bear’s fur.
It was not the first time a bear had been struck and killed by a vehicle on I-55 in southern Jefferson County. On June 13, 2022, a black bear was struck and killed between Herculaneum and Festus.
Zarlenga cautioned residents that this may not be the only bear Jefferson County residents see this spring.
According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, sightings are more common this time of year as mother cubs push out the males that have been there for a year and a half.
Zarlenga estimates about 800 bears live in Missouri, most in the Ozarks.
The conservation department urges residents to take precautions to protect their families and their pets, while adding a bear’s first inclination is to avoid humans. The most important thing is to never deliberately feed a bear.
He offered the following suggestions to remain safe from bears.
■ Be careful about putting food out for pets. If you have to feed a pet outside, give them just enough for a meal and then take any remaining food inside.
■ Make sure your trash is sealed or wait to put it out until the morning of its collection.
■ Also, use caution with grills. Either thoroughly clean them or keep them inside. The meat drippings may attract bears.
■ Bears may also be attracted to bird feeders. You might want to take them inside for a few days or, possibly a week, until time has passed since any sightings.
For more information, go to mdc.mo.gov and search “bear reports.”