Black bear found near a Taco Bell among multiple sightings across the KC metro
Black bear sightings have been reported in multiple locations in the Kansas City metro, according to authorities.
A Grandview Police officer -- on his way to work just before 6 a.m. Tuesday -- spotted a black bear near a Taco Bell at West Outer Road and Main Street in Grandview, according to a statement from the city.
The bear was later spotted in a residential area near 13th Street and Skyline Drive.
According to a city spokesperson, animal control officers reached out to the Missouri Department of Conservation and confirmed the bear sighting.
“The bear is not believed to be a danger to the public unless provoked,” said Amy Nash, a city spokesperson, in a statement. “So if you see the bear, immediately call 911 so we can contact conservation agents.”
The Missouri Department of Conservation advises people to not approach the bear if they see it, and to call 911.
The conservation department also advises people to not leave food or trash outside and to lock dumpsters if possible. People should not leave pets unattended.
Black bears in Kansas and Missouri
Other black bear sightings have been recently reported in Johnson County, according to a spokesperson with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.
“Our wildlife biologists are aware of the reports and are looking into it,” said Laura Clawson, a KDWP spokeswoman. “They can confirm that the images do depict a black bear.”
Clawson said that historically, Black bears have been found in the woodlands of eastern Kansas and in rugged terrain in the south-central and southwestern portions of the state.
They have been documented only occasionally since the 1880s, but populations of black bears within short distances of Kansas have led to increased sightings since 2000, Clawson said.
Missouri is home to a little over 1,000 black bears, according to the state conservation department. While most of the bears are found in forested areas south of Interstate 44, their range is moving north, according to the conservation department website.
This story was originally published May 13, 2025 at 1:28 PM.
