Local artist extraordinaire, Dr. Jeanne Jones, has created her black bear masterpiece. Her serene landscape will be the perfect gift for wildlife supporters everywhere.
Dr. Jones, associate professor of wildlife and fisheries at Mississippi State University, was inspired to paint this portrait by the news in 2004 of baby bears born in Mississippi – the first documented birth in 40 years. Jones was careful to capture the realistic look of this elusive, federally protected species in her portrayal of a sow and two cubs. She was also vigilant to feature the bear family in one of its native habitats consisting of beautiful bottomland hardwoods, along a river's edge, with indigenous flora including switchcane, pawpaw, cypress trees, palmettos, grapevine, and even the endangered plant pondberry.
Jones' limited edition prints are all signed and numbered with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the Bear Education and Restoration "BEaR" Group of Mississippi. BEaR is a non-profit organization dedicated to conserving healthy populations of black bears throughout the Magnolia State. Dr. Jones' generosity and her commitment to conservation will help the BEaR Group bring black bears back to their historical range.
Just a century ago, back when President Theodore Roosevelt was on his famous 1902 bear hunt in the Mississippi Delta that resulted in the creation of the Teddy bear, thousands of black bears roamed the state. Since then, populations declined, mostly due to habitat destruction and overhunting. But today, habitat is being restored, laws are improving, attitudes are changing, and this animal's adaptable nature is all aiding the comeback.
You can help too – by purchasing a print. You will end up with a prized copy of Dr. Jones' striking work and, at the same time, financially contribute to bear restoration in Mississippi.
An unmated, unframed print costs only $50, plus $5 for shipping and handling. Digital Imaging Group in Flowood, Mississippi, printed these quality reproductions on archival paper, guaranteed to last about 75 years with proper care. The print size is 14 x 23 inches.
Want a print already double matted and framed (using non-glare glass), with a finished size of nearly 23 x 33 inches? Purchase it from Bass Pro Shops in Pearl, Mississippi, for $125. Also, you can buy a print on line at the BEaR Group website: www.msbear.org. Or, send your check or money order to: BEaR Group of Mississippi, Attention: BEaR Print, P.O. Box 205, Rolling Fork, MS 39159.
Most orders will be shipped within 7 business days. For more information, call 601-321-1121.
James L. Cummins is Executive Director of Wildlife Mississippi, a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi. Their web site is www.wildlifemiss.org.