The Black Bear Program in Mississippi celebrated a jumbo-sized black bear, the largest in the program's history. Black bears are designated as endangered in the state.

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Black Bear Program coordinator Anthony Ballard is photographed with a sedated bear that was captured in Mississippi for research and weighs 510 pounds, the heaviest bear recorded in the state.

Wildlife officials in Mississippi said researchers trapped and tagged a 510-pound bear that is officially the largest ever documented in the state.

A 510-pound black bear was tranquilized and collared as part of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Black Bear Program.