“Bears think with their stomachs and garbage left out overnight lures them.”
DEBORAH WHEELER @WaltonSunDeb
Black bears are native to Florida, which is a fact many tourists or new residents are unaware of and surprised to learn. Unfortunately, some may become aware by encountering one.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Jordan Green travels the Northwest Florida region speaking about our black bears and how to live in harmony with them.
“The last estimate in 2016 is that statewide we have 4,050 bears,” Green said. “For this area in the western Panhandle, the estimate is that we have 120.”
Green said that only 15 people have ever been injured in the state by bears.
Timid by nature, black bears are more likely to take flight than fight, taking refuge under cover or up a tree, Green said. Their diet is mostly vegetarian, but they will eat other types of food if available. Their sense of smell is excellent, allowing them to pick up scents up to a mile away.
The most important message Green tries to impart to his audiences is that it’s human behavior that turns bears into problems.
“Bears think with their stomachs and garbage left out overnight lures them,” he said.
Garbage is not the only lure, though, as bird feeders and grills can also attract them.
“It’s illegal to feed bears, and it is also illegal to unintentionally feed bears,” Green said. “If you knowingly leave out garbage when you know there is a bear around, you can be cited.”
The use of metal garbage lids and doors instead of plastic snap-on lids help to deter them, as well as sliding doors secured with a slip.
Bear-resistant cans may be purchased, and some counties may have them available to rent.
For residents who do encounter a