Last week, I reported that a large black bear had been hit and killed by an automobile five miles north of Alpine on State Highway 118. The question is: What will happen to the bear? The large critter is now in the freezer at Hip-O Taxidermy.

Local game wardens have expressed a desire to have the bear mounted and put on display in a local museum or other institution, or have a rug made from the bear's hide. I checked several taxidermists' prices on the Internet, and a full-body mount of a black bear ranged from $8,000-$10,000. Even a rug would run several thousand dollars.

As with any road kill such as a deer or large game animal, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has ownership of the bear. It is considered a state resource.

TPWD officials indicate the department on occasion has donated a resource such as a bear to an educational institution or museum. The donation, however, does not include any taxidermy cost.

So while the 425-pound bear is still in the freezer, it remains to be seen what the bear's final outcome will be.

Although still rare in Texas, bear numbers are increasing slowly in the state. Most black bears in Texas are in the mountains of the Trans Pecos. An estimated 20 bears live in the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park.

In recent years, more bear sightings have been recorded in deep East Texas. These bears probably have migrated from Louisiana. A few sightings also have come from several Panhandle counties.

From the Big Bend to Austin, bear sightings have surprised TPWD biologists and the public alike. On the other hand, a black bear sighting in the Hill Country is not uncommon. These individual bears may truly be wild animals looking for suitable habitat or mates, but it is also possible they are released or captive animals.

Central Texans probably are seeing wandering individual animals from farther west or maybe from Mexico.

The average black bear rarely exceeds 300 pounds. Since the bear killed near Alpine weighed over 400 pounds, I wonder if it was a released bear that had been fed regularly. In my opinion, a wild bear in the deserts of West Texas with limited food supplies could not obtain that weight.

Although the black bear is considered a game animal in most western states, bears are completely protected in Texas. It is a violation of state law to kill a black bear, and if a person shoots a bear, they could face a fine of up to $10,000, added civil restitution, jail time and loss of hunting privileges.

Many hunters like to hunt wild hogs, and in low-light conditions it is possible to mistake a bear for a wild hog. As in any situation, hunters should be sure of their target before pulling the trigger.

The odds of sighting a bear in Central Texas are very small, but if you do see one, call the Kerrville TPWD regional office at (830) 896-2500 and report the sighting.

*** If you read this column regularly, you know Elmer Kelton is one of my favorite authors, and I have copies of most of his books in my personal library. Many other Kelton fans also reside in the area.

I recently accessed the Web site rimrockpress.com and read a blog concerning Kelton's health. The blog said Kelton fell in his bathroom several weeks ago and was taken to the hospital. Later, he was released but was readmitted due to shortness of breath and difficulty in breathing. He was put on oxygen and supposedly is fighting pneumonia and other ailments. Plans were to transfer Kelton to a nursing home for a while where he can receive roundthe clock care until he gains enough strength to return home. I would encourage you to say a prayer for him and his recovery.

The next Kelton book to be released is "Other Men's Horses." If his health improves, the author has scheduled a book-signing this fall. If I get an update, I will keep you informed.

Former Soil Conservation Service employee and longtime writer Mat Taylor offers his outdoors column for Dispatch Record readers. He can be contacted at (254) 518- 2262 or via e-mail at mntaylor@agristar.net.