The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is urging Florida residents to be extra vigilant about securing potential food sources, as the state’s black bears are more active this fall in preparation for winter.
Even in Florida, bears enter a period of heightened eating to store up necessary fat reserves. An adult black bear can consume up to 20,000 calories a day during the fall, leading them to seek out easy meals, according to FWC.
Bears are opportunistic eaters with very strong senses of smell, making unsecured garbage, pet food, and even bird seed irresistible targets.
“To prevent bears from associating your yard or neighborhood with a free meal, remove any attractants such as unsecured trash or bird seed,” said Mike Orlando, FWC Bear Management Program Coordinator. “When bears can’t find food, they’ll move on.”
The FWC encourages everyone to follow the six BearWise® Basics to prevent human-bear conflicts:
- 1. Never feed or approach bears: Intentionally feeding bears is illegal and causes them to lose their natural fear of people.
- 2. Secure food and garbage: Store trash in a sturdy shed or garage, or use bear-resistant containers. Put garbage out on the morning of pickup, not the night before.
- 3. Remove or secure bird feeders: Remove feeders entirely, or only put out enough food for birds to finish before dark.
- 4. Never leave pet food outdoors: Feed pets indoors, or bring in any leftover food and dishes immediately after outdoor feedings.
- 5. Clean and store grills: Degrease grills and smokers after each use and store them securely in a shed or garage.
- 6. Alert neighbors to bear activity: Share conflict-prevention tips and encourage community-wide secure trash practices.
While black bears are not generally aggressive, conflicts can occur. Female bears with cubs can be especially defensive.
The FWC notes that dogs can often trigger bears, with 60% of incidents where bears injured people in Florida involving dogs. When walking, keep dogs close on a non-retractable leash and be aware of your surroundings. Before letting dogs out at night, flip lights on and off or make noise to give any nearby wildlife a chance to flee.
The increased search for food also means bears are crossing more roads. Drivers should slow down, especially on rural highways at dawn or dusk, and watch for signs indicating known bear crossing areas.
Residents experiencing conflicts with bears can contact one of the FWC’s five regional offices for assistance. To report an injured, orphaned, or dead bear, or to report someone harming or intentionally feeding bears, call the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
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