The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is reminding residents to be extra vigilant as we enter the peak season for black bear activity, particularly for young bears venturing out on their own.
Black bears are native to Florida and play an important role in the state's ecosystem. However, as their population grows and human development expands, encounters between bears and people are becoming more frequent.
This time of year is especially crucial as mother bears are pushing their yearlings to become independent. These young bears, often inexperienced and curious, may wander into residential areas in search of food.
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“Juvenile or yearling bears – between the ages of 1½ -2½ – start dispersing in spring and summer each year,” said the FWC’s Bear Management Program Coordinator, Mike Orlando. “The best thing people can do if they see a bear in an unexpected area is to give them plenty of space and to never approach or feed them and they will typically move along on their own.”
The FWC offers the following tips for coexisting with bears:
- Secure garbage: Store garbage in bear-resistant containers or keep it indoors until the morning of collection.
- Feed pets indoors: Don't leave pet food outside, as it can attract bears.
- Clean grills: Clean grills thoroughly after each use, including the grease trap.
- Pick ripe fruit: Harvest fruit from trees as soon as it ripens and remove fallen fruit from the ground.
- Protect beehives: Install electric fencing around beehives to deter bears.
- Report bear sightings: Report bear sightings to the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
By working together, residents and the FWC can help keep Florida's black bear population safe and thriving.
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Remember, a fed bear is a dead bear. By eliminating attractants around our homes, we can help ensure that bears retain their natural fear of humans, which is essential for their survival.
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