Spring 'BearWise' tips to reduce conflicts with bears
With spring bringing warmer weather, bears become more active in search of food, and female bears are also beginning to travel with their cubs and teaching them where to forage for food, which increases the possibility of people having interactions with bears.
“Bears will take advantage of easy meals, such as unsecured garbage, pet food or bird seed,” said David Telesco, FWC Bear Management Program Coordinator, “If bears don’t find a food source in the neighborhood, they’ll move on.”
Six tips to reduce potential for bear conflicts at your home
1: Never feed or approach bears
Feeding bears can make them lose their natural fear of people. It is illegal in Florida to intentionally feed bears or leave out food or garbage that will attract bears and cause conflicts. Getting close to a wild animal is dangerous.
2: Secure food and garbage
Store garbage in a sturdy shed or garage, and then put it out on the morning of pickup rather than the night before. If not stored in a secured building, modify your existing garbage can to make it more bear-resistant or use a bear-resistant container. Secure commercial garbage in bear-resistant dumpsters. Protect gardens, beehives, compost and livestock with electric fencing. Pick ripe fruit from trees and bushes and remove fallen fruit from the ground.
3: Remove or secure bird and wildlife feeders
Remove wildlife feeders. If wildlife feeders are left up, only put enough food out for wildlife to finish eating before dark and make feeders bear-resistant.
4: Never leave pet food outdoors
Feed pets indoors. If feeding pets outdoors, only put food outside for short time periods, and bring in leftover food and dishes after each feeding.
5: Clean and store grills
Clean and degrease grills and smokers after each use. If your grill or smoker is mobile, store it in a secured (closed or locked) shed or garage.
6: Alert neighbors to bear activity
If you see a bear, let your neighbors know. Share tips on how to avoid conflicts with bears. Encourage your homeowner’s association or local government to institute bylaws or ordinances to require trash be kept secure.
Tips for walking dogs
While black bears generally are not aggressive, they have injured people in Florida. Dogs can trigger defensive behaviors from bears, especially females with cubs. When walking dogs, keep them close to you - preferably on a non-retractable leash - and be aware of your surroundings. Before letting your dog out at night, flip your ouside lights on and off, then bang on the door to give bears and other wildlife a chance to flee before you venture outside with your pet.
Tips for driving
As bears increase their movements this time of year, they also increase the number of roads they cross. For the safety of yourself and bears, remember to slow down when driving, particularly on rural highways at dawn or dusk. Watch for road signs identifying bear crossing areas. Each year in Florida, an average of 250 bears are killed due to being struck by vehicles.
Report conflicts or other problems with bears
Having conflicts with bears? Call the FWC’s regional offices in your area. find the information for your area here: myfwc.com/contact/fwc-office/regional-offices. To report someone who is harming bears or intentionally feeding them, call the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
Other bear resources
More information is available at MyFWC.com/Bear. Access the “Guide to Living in Bear Country” brochure here: myfwc.com/media/1891/livinginbearcountrybrochure.pdf. Find additional ways to be BearWise at BearWise.org. Help bears and other wildlife by purchasing the Conserve Wildlife tag at WildlifeFlorida.org/CWT. For more information on wildlife in Spring, visit: myfwc.com/news/spring-news.