Missouri police department warns citizens not to wrestle with black bears

Missouri has the usual warnings about bears, such as don’t feed them and stay away from them. 

The Salem Police Department, in southern Missouri, is warning the public to avoid wrestling with black bears. 

On Facebook, the department says it received phone calls about a bear roaming the area. 

The agency says bear wrestling is illegal in Missouri. 

According to a state statute, the offense of bear wrestling is a class A misdemeanor if a person wrestles with a bear, advertises bear wrestling; collects admission for bear wrestling; trains a bear for bear wrestling; subjects a bear to surgical alteration for bear wrestling; among other things. 

Missouri has an estimated 800 black bears, found south of the Missouri River, and primarily south of Interstate 44.