As black bears become more active in spring, here’s how to be ‘BearWise’

The arrival of spring means Florida’s black bear population is becoming more active -- that means it’s more likely you could end up interacting with one.

But the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is sharing ways to be BearWise® to help prevent conflicts between people and bears.

Florida black bears typically try to avoid people, but this time of year, momma bears are teaching their cubs where to look for food and all black bears are on the move to find things to eat.

So if you want to keep bears and other wildlife from thinking your yard is a place for an easy meal, it’s time to remove potential food sources and things that might attract the creatures -- such as unsecured garbage, pet food and bird seed -- from around your property.

Florida black bears might linger in neighborhoods if they can easily access food sources, but they’ll move on if they can’t find food.

Help avoid negative interactions with bears by following these tips and BearWise® Basics this spring:

1. Never feed or approach bears

• Always give bears and other wildlife space -- getting too close to a wild animal can be dangerous.
• It is illegal in Florida to intentionally feed bears or leave out food or garbage that will attract bears and cause conflicts.
• Feeding bears can make them associate people with food and lose their natural fear of humans.

2. Secure potential bear food sources

• 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 and nuts from trees and bushes, and remove fallen fruit and nuts from the ground.

3. Remove or secure bird and wildlife feeders

• Remove bird and other wildlife feeders when bears are more active in the spring and fall.
• If feeders are left up, only put enough food out for birds and other wildlife to finish eating before dark and make feeders bear-resistant.

4. Don’t leave pet food outside

• Feed pets indoors.
• If feeding pets outside, only put food out 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 moveable, keep them stored in a secure shed or garage.

6. Alert neighbors to bear activity

• If you see a bear, share sightings with your neighbors.
• Share these BearWise® 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.

Black bears are generally not aggressive but they have injured people in Florida. Dogs in particular can trigger defensive behaviors from bears, especially females with cubs.

So when you’re walking your dogs, keep them close to you on a short leash and stay aware of your surroundings. Before letting your dog outside in your yard, flip exterior lights on and off and bang on the door to give bears and other wildlife a chance to leave the area.

Bears cross more roadways as they become more active this time of year. To avoid hitting a bear or other animal while you’re driving, slow down, particularly on rural highways at dawn or dusk. Look for road signs identifying bear and other wildlife crossing areas.

Each year in Florida, an average of 250 bears die after being hit by vehicles.

If you’re having conflicts with bears, the FWC should be your first call.

Go to MyFWC.com/Contact and click on “Contact Regional Offices” to find the phone number for your region. A biologist can go over the specifics of your situation to help resolve any conflicts.

If you want to report someone who is either harming bears or intentionally feeding them, call the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

More information is available at MyFWC.com/Bear, where you can access the “Guide to Living in Bear Country” brochure. Find additional ways to be BearWise at BearWise.org.

Thirty-eight states, including Florida, support BearWise®, an innovative program that helps people learn ways to responsibly live around bears.

Spring is an active time for many of Florida’s wildlife species. For more information on wildlife in Spring, visit MyFWC.com/News and click on “Spring Wildlife News.”