As spring ushers in warmer weather, Florida’s black bears are emerging from their winter dens, prompting the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to remind residents to be BearWise® and take precautions to avoid human-bear conflicts.
With bears actively seeking food and water in March, easy access to garbage, bird seed, or pet food can attract them to residential areas. The FWC urges residents to secure these attractants to prevent bears from becoming habituated to human food sources and teaching their cubs to do the same.
Here are the BearWise® Basics to follow:
- Never feed or approach bears.
- Remove bird feeders when bears are active.
- Feed pets indoors and never leave pet food outside.
- Clean and store grills and smokers.
- Secure food, garbage, and recycling.
- Alert neighbors to bear activity in the area.
Residents living in bear country should follow the FWC’s at-home checklist, remembering that screened-in porches and decks are considered “outside” to a hungry bear.
READS :Florida Bears Can Be Found In Unexpected Places. What You Should Do.
While black bears are generally not aggressive, they have been known to injure people in Florida. Dogs can trigger defensive behaviors, especially from females with cubs. When walking dogs, keep them on a short leash and stay aware of your surroundings. Before letting dogs outside, turn exterior lights on and off and bang on the door to alert any nearby bears.
Increased bear activity also leads to more roadway crossings. Drivers are advised to slow down, particularly on rural highways at dawn and dusk, and watch for bear crossing signs. An average of 250 bears are killed annually in Florida due to vehicle collisions.
For conflicts with bears, the FWC encourages residents to contact their regional office for assistance. To report someone harming or intentionally feeding bears, call the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
More information on living responsibly with bears can be found at MyFWC.com/Bear, including the “Guide to Living in Bear Country” brochure. Residents can also support bear conservation by purchasing the Conserve Wildlife license plate at WildlifeFlorida.org.
The FWC is a partner in the national BearWise® program, which provides science-based information on living responsibly with bears.
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