Mississippi
Black bear moves on from DeSoto County. But could he — or other bears — return to area?
DeSoto County black bear: See video of the bear near Nesbit
A black bear was spotted multiple times in North Mississippi as it made its way across DeSoto County and into Marshall County.
A juvenile black bear’s adventure through DeSoto County has produced photo and video across the area and sparked discussion about wild bears in Mississippi.
Now, more than a week after the bear was first spotted in DeSoto County, he appears to have moved on eastward to Byhalia and Marshall County.
But could this bear or other bears return?
Anthony Ballard is the Black Bear Program coordinator for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. He said it’s possible this bear or others could visit the area, but noted it’s hard to predict what bears will do.
“That bear could turn north and go to Tennessee,” Ballard said. “He might turn around and go right back to Lake McCormorant, or he may walk to Alabama. You just never know. He may set up camp right where he is and stay there for the rest of his life.”
The DeSoto County bear was noticeably young and likely male. Ballard said it’s normal for males of his age to travel long distances rapidly in this way. While females usually remain close to their mother, males around 16-18 months begin to roam.
“So this time of year, what you see is young males, usually, that disperse a long distance from their original home range,” he said. “So it could be tens or even hundreds of miles from that original home range, just to just spread those genetics out, you know, into a different area. That’s kind of a biological way of, you know, preventing inbreeding and genetic problems. They’re going to just try to figure out how to be a bear on their own.”
Ballard said the travel is instinctive — bears aren’t necessarily looking for females at this point or even going anywhere in particular, just somewhere to establish a home range without any competing males nearby. North Mississippi hasn’t seen a bear in years, so that certainly fits the bill.
While most of the estimated 150 bears in Mississippi can be found near the Gulf Coast and Mississippi Delta, Ballard hazards a guess that the bear is actually from Arkansas, meaning he swam across the Mississippi River.
“A lot of the bears that we have here in Mississippi came from population sources from either Louisiana or Arkansas,” he said.
It’s a good sign — as the population density of bears increases, the males adapt by going farther and farther distances to find their permanent home, even crossing large bodies of water like the Mississippi.
Black bear populations are making a comeback in Mississippi. They’re a historically important species to the state, with fossil records dating back 12,000 years. By the 1930s their numbers were devastated to about a dozen bears. Bear hunting was banned in 1932, and thanks to years of conservation efforts, by 2002 there were nearly 50 bears. Now the number is more than 150, though it is difficult to determine an exact number.
Bears are a protected species in Mississippi — harming one could lead to jailtime. If the bear has been spotted in your area, be sure to move inside your home anything that could attract the bear, like barbecue grills, smokers, garbage, animal and pet feed and even bird feeders. Do not scare or agitate the bear with loud sounds, simply wait for the bear to leave.
“I tell people anything that a dog can get into, a bear can smell even better, and they’re even better at getting into it,” Ballard said.
To learn everything you need to know about coexisting with bears in the areas that they roam, visit bearwise.org.
Jacob Wilt is a reporter for The Commercial Appeal covering DeSoto County, as well as Dining in the Memphis area. You can reach him at jacob.wilt@commercialappeal.com.
Mississippi
Post-Tropical Storm Arthur unleashes High Risk Level 4 flood threat to Mississippi | Latest Weather Clips | FOX Weather
Post-Tropical Storm Arthur unleashes High Risk Level 4 flood threat to Mississippi
The Mississippi coastline is under a rare Level 4 out of 4 High Risk flood threat as remnants of Post-Tropical Storm Arthur continue fueling hazards through late week. FOX Weather Correspondent Brandy Campbell brings us the latest live from Biloxi, Mississippi, where rain is already falling:
Odds of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions are NOT in your favor
Odds of hitting the jackpot in Mega Millions or Powerball are around 1-in-292 million. Here are things that you’re more likely to land than big bucks.
The Mississippi Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 17, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from June 17 drawing
03-06-10-13-24
Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 3 numbers from June 17 drawing
Midday: 6-1-7, FB: 4
Evening: 6-4-0, FB: 5
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from June 17 drawing
Midday: 9-8-4-1, FB: 4
Evening: 9-1-2-3, FB: 5
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from June 17 drawing
Midday: 09
Evening: 11
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Story continues below gallery.
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
Winnings of $599 or less can be claimed at any authorized Mississippi Lottery retailer.
Prizes between $600 and $99,999, may be claimed at the Mississippi Lottery Headquarters or by mail. Mississippi Lottery Winner Claim form, proper identification (ID) and the original ticket must be provided for all claims of $600 or more. If mailing, send required documentation to:
Mississippi Lottery Corporation
P.O. Box 321462
Flowood, MS
39232
If your prize is $100,000 or more, the claim must be made in person at the Mississippi Lottery headquarters. Please bring identification, such as a government-issued photo ID and a Social Security card to verify your identity. Winners of large prizes may also have the option of setting up electronic funds transfer (EFT) for direct deposits into a bank account.
Mississippi Lottery Headquarters
1080 River Oaks Drive, Bldg. B-100
Flowood, MS
39232
Mississippi Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date. For detailed instructions and necessary forms, please visit the Mississippi Lottery claim page.
When are the Mississippi Lottery drawings held?
- Cash 3: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
- Cash 4: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
- Match 5: Daily at 9:30 p.m. CT.
- Cash Pop: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Mississippi editor. You can send feedback using this form.
When to call 911 and when to use non-emergency lines in Memphis, Shelby County
This video explains the importance of knowing when to call 911 for emergencies and when to use non-emergency lines for less critical situations.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is investigating a shoplifting call that resulted in the death of a one-year-old child in Northwest Mississippi.
The incident, which occurred on June 14, has led the family to hire a civil rights attorney, and the officer involved is facing repercussions. Protests have also broken out in response to the city’s lack of action against the officers involved in the incident.
Here is what to know about the situation so far.
Why were policed called to the Walmart in Senatobia?
On June 14, police were called to the Walmart on U.S. 51 in Senatobia regarding a shoplifting incident. Officers with the Senatobia Police Department and the Tate County Sheriff’s Office responded and, upon arrival, saw two subjects and a child fleeing from the store into a vehicle.
According to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, officers attempted to stop the vehicle as the driver drove toward them. One officer shot into the car as the car fled the scene.
Later, the subjects arrived at the local hospital, where the child, 1-year-old Kohen Wiley, was pronounced dead and another subject had critical injuries.
What happened to the officer?
On June 16, the city of Senatobia announced the police officer who shot and killed Wiley was placed on leave.
The announcement came shortly after police deployed tear gas on a group of protestors outside the Walmart where the incident took place. The Walmart was temporarily closed but reopened around 8:20 a.m., according to WMC Action News 5, The Commercial Appeal’s broadcast partner.
“We’re saddened by what took place at our Senatobia, MS, store,” a Walmart spokesperson told WMC. “The safety of our associates and customers is a top priority. We’re working with law enforcement as they continue investigating.”
Is the family taking legal action?
Wiley’s family retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump, the attorney’s office announced on June 16.
“A 1-year-old child is dead because police officers in Mississippi opened fire on a car in a crowded Walmart parking lot,” said Crump in the statement. “Kohen Wiley was a baby. His mother, who has not been charged with any crime, says she was trying to communicate to officers that there was a baby in the car. They fired anyway, leading to the death of an innocent 1-year-old. We intend to seek justice for baby Kohen and the life that was stolen from him.”
Where is Senatobia?
Senatobia is roughly 40 miles directly south of Memphis and sits along Interstate 55 in Mississippi. According to the most recent Census, the city has a population of approximately 8,400 people.
Jordan Green covers trending news for The Commercial Appeal and Tennessee. She can be reached at jordan.green@commercialappeal.com
-
Nevada34 seconds agoWOW Carwash touts year-round water conservation with recycling tech in Southern Nevada
-
New Hampshire6 minutes agoConcord celebrates 237 years of Constitution ratification with festivities – Concord Monitor
-
New Jersey13 minutes agoIs ICE giving up on Roxbury detention center? NJ leaders laud report
-
New Mexico16 minutes agoNew Mexico leaders push funding to fight screwworm after 1 local case
-
North Carolina21 minutes ago
Rare whale shark sighting off North Carolina coast
-
North Dakota28 minutes agoNDSU, Dickinson State partner to expand nursing education
-
Ohio31 minutes ago
Court orders Ohio restrictions on kids’ use of social media restored
-
Oklahoma36 minutes agoOklahoma Adds OF Adi Hansen From Southern Idaho
