By Tim SchmidtRecord Managing EditorA local Missouri conservation agent is not surprised about last week’s sighting of a black bear in Warren County. James Kuenzle, Warren County conservation agent, said it might become more of an occurrence in the future as more bears migrate into Missouri from Arkansas and make their way north.The black bear sighting was made Thursday afternoon, south of the Hopewell Hill area between Warrenton and Marthasville. Shawnna Bayer and her two daughters observed the bear running across a field while traveling south on Highway 47. One of the girls quickly snapped a picture to record the sighting.The bear caught the three family members, who reside in the area, by surprise.“We couldn’t believe we had seen one,” Bayer said. “It was really running.”Most black bears in the state are south of the Missouri River, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation website. However, some have been reported in a few northern counties. This is the only species of bear found in Missouri, the website states.Kuenzle said residents should not be alarmed about the bear’s presence in the area.“They are not really harmful to humans,” he told The Record. “They primarily go after berries, grubs and things like that. If you corner one, they are likely to attack like any animal. “You should respect them without a doubt. See one in town, try to make yourself look as big as possible.”Bears generally travel near creeks and wooded areas, Kuenzle noted..“We have a lot of black bears in the southern part of state,” he said. “It’s something Missourians are not used to, but they were here before we were.”Bear sighting