Harlan mayor discusses black bear comeback as some residents push for expanded hunting

Harlan Mayor Joe Meadors says he has watched black bears become a more visible part of life in Eastern Kentucky, a shift that has prompted some residents to argue for expanded black bear hunting as a way to manage encounters and reduce public safety risks in the community.

In an interview reported by the Kentucky Lantern, Meadors described decades in Harlan and said he is glad to see wildlife returning, including animals he said he rarely saw as a child, such as deer, elk and turkeys. He also said the community is now dealing with more bears, which can bring animals into closer contact with people and property.

The Kentucky Lantern report includes a photo captioned as showing a black bear seen on Ivy Street in Harlan next to a trash bag and a knocked over trash bin, illustrating the kind of environment where residents may be more likely to encounter bears while handling waste and outdoor areas.

Meadors’ comments were made in the context of a local conversation about whether additional hunting opportunities should be made available. The article says some residents want to expand black bear hunting in Eastern Kentucky, reflecting a broader dispute common in areas where wildlife populations increase and communities weigh safety concerns against conservation and hunting rules.

For Meadors, the issue is not simply whether bears are present, but how the town is coping with them. The report portrays him as supportive of the idea of having wildlife around the area, even as he acknowledges that bears are drawing more attention from residents who want management tools that include hunting.