CAMDEN COUNTY, Mo. (KCTV) – A rare black bear sighting at the Lake of the Ozarks has officials providing reminders about bear safety for Missourians.
Video shared by Riley Will shows a black bear swimming in the main channel of the Lake of the Ozarks.
Officials with the Missouri Department of Conservation said it’s exciting to see bears in Missouri, but it’s important for people to leave them alone.
The MDC shared a few other reminders, as well as information about the bear, following the sighting:
- Do not chase the bear or follow it. It’s detrimental to the bear.
- This is likely a younger male black bear on a dispersal run.
- This types of excursions for black bears are typically short-lived, but unfortunately the bear has found unnatural food sources (human food). One of our Wildlife Damage Biologists is currently on his way to the way to the area to deploy tactics to move the bear out of the area.
- Residents at the Lake of the Ozarks are urged to securely store their trash or any other food sources in order to not attract bears.
Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.