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A House bill would list black bears as a fur bearing animal in Iowa. (Photo by U.S. Fisheries and Wildlife Service)<\/p>\n
As Iowa\u2019s black bear population becomes more permanent, lawmakers seek to end the \u201copen season\u201d on the bears by designating them a fur-bearing animal in the state.\u00a0<\/p>\n
House File 2099<\/a> would add black bears to the state list of fur-bearing animals, which would give the Natural Resources Commission the ability to establish a hunting or trapping season for the bears. The bill additionally sets a $2,500 fine for the unlawful killing of a bear.\u00a0<\/p>\n The bill was sponsored by Rep. Brian Lohse, R-Bondurant, who said the issue was brought to his attention by his son, who he said wants to protect black bears so that he could one day hunt them in Iowa.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is an issue that we need to address, and the reality that we potentially have bears cubbing \u2013 having cubs \u2013 \u2026 Now\u2019s the time to protect them, because they\u2019re not currently protected under Iowa law,\u201d Lohse said.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX<\/a><\/p>\n Without a formal designation in Iowa code, there are no penalties or regulations against hunting black bears in the state.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Iowa Department of Natural Resources said in May 2025 that several black bears overwintered<\/a> in northeast Iowa, which is a step toward an established breeding population of black bears in Iowa. On average, there are five bear sightings annually in Iowa and in 2024 there were eight sightings, according to DNR.\u00a0<\/p>\n Lohse said if the state protects the animals, they can manage their populations and keep them from becoming too numerous.\u00a0<\/p>\n Preston Moore, on behalf of the Humane World for Animals, opposed the bill and said in the subcommittee that the potential the bill creates for trapping black bears is \u201cegregious and cruel.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOur biggest concern with this bill is that it\u2019s being framed as a black bear protection bill,\u201d Moore said. \u201cYes, it would protect black bears on the surface, but it would also open the door to the Natural Resource Commission establishing a trapping season against this species.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Environmental groups like the Sierra Club Iowa Chapter, the Iowa division of the Izaak Walton League and the Iowa Conservation Alliance registered in support of the bill, with a lobbyist for the latter saying it was the \u201cfirst step\u201d to protecting the animal.\u00a0<\/p>\n Jim Obradovich, speaking on behalf of the Iowa Trappers Association, which is registered undecided on the bill, pushed back on the notion that fur trapping was a cruel practice. He said trapping is done in \u201ca humane way\u201d in Iowa.\u00a0<\/p>\n