Florida has over 4,000 Florida black bears. Bears are illegal in Florida. Once the bear comes into your yard, there is a safe and clear escape route that scares you.
Lions and tigers aren’t that great.
But the Bears… yeah.
Welcome to Florida, home to alligators and black bears.
Bears are almost everywhere in Florida, but are concentrated in some areas, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The frequently seen bears spread throughout the state, from the Panhandle to southwest Florida.
Her mother, Bear and three children were found on January 31st in the afternoon in the Collier County community in southwestern Florida.
That’s not too unusual, with the Cubs born around late January or February, FWC said.
Map: See where Florida’s black bears appear in general
Before the European settlement, Florida Black Bears occupied all of Florida’s mainland, as well as coastal islands and large keys, according to the FWC.
By the mid-1970s, its range had dropped to 18% of its historic range.
Today, they “reoccupied” 49% of their historical range, the FWC said.
The FWC Map lists locations for each of four categories.
Frequently: Bear locations are the highest density, indicating that bears spend a considerable amount of time in these areas. These areas are the core of bear populations where reproductive evidence is consistent. Common: The second highest area of the bear’s location, these areas are where the bears spread out of its core area and spend a considerable amount of time. Occasionally: Bears are seen irregularly, but their presence is not unexpected given their proximity to frequent common areas. Region,” the FWC said.
FWC Interactive Bear Map
The FWC maintains an interactive public bear map that can be filtered by several categories, including specific counties.
Data is updated monthly and includes locations of bear-related calls from the public, and includes Bears processed by the FWC.
➤ FWC Interactive Bear Map View Bear Call, Mortality Rate, Bear Capture
According to the FWC, the Bears are roaming the forests from Eglin Air Force Base in the Panhandle to the Ocala National Forest in the central part of the state.
How many bears are there in Florida?
The FWC estimates there are around 4,050 Bears across the state.
What habitat do Florida black bears prefer?
Florida Black Bears prefers a mixture of flatwood, marsh, scrub oak ridges, bayheads and hammock habitats, FWC said.
“Wild bears are found in almost half of the state, but due to the people’s natural vigilance and the preference of the dense lower levels, they may be difficult to see,” the FWC warned.
What do Florida bears eat?
According to FWC, about 80% of tukidaet comes from plants (fruits, nuts, berries), insects (termites, ants, yellow jackets) and 15% from meat (opossums, armadillos, carrion). 。
“Bear Bear is a Dead Bear”: Dos and Dos about living with a Black Bear in Florida
“The Fed bear is a dead bear,” the FWC said.
“Bears are driven by the need to eat and the smell of smell that can detect odors a mile away. Bears can be pet food, trash, barbecue grills, bird seeds, and even livestock feed. Accessing food sources such as: problems arise.
“Bears are found all over Florida and sometimes they visit their neighborhoods,” the FWC said. “If the bears can’t find food, they move on.” There are several suggestions for living with a Florida black bear from FWC, along with the illegal ones.
Feeding bears use electric fencing of illegal trash, pet food, bird seed secure livestock, recognize your surroundings and walk your dog with a short leeshiff in conflict with the bear. Please contact your local FWC office. myfwc.com/about
What can you do if a bear comes to your garden?
If a bear comes to your yard, first make sure you are in a safe area and make sure the bear has a clear escape route, the FWC said.
Then “I’ll scare the bear.”
“You want to let the bear know that it’s not welcome in your garden, so you’re scared of anything that screams, pounds or pans, use air horns, or make a lot of noise from a safe place. I’m scared to be careful.
“The use of paintball, bear spray and sling shots is also permitted under the FWC guidelines,” the FWC said.
What happens if I encounter a bear in person?
“If you encounter a bear at close range, stand upright and slowly back up, and speak to the bear in a gentle, assertive voice,” the FWC said. Make sure the bear has an obvious escape route.
Do not turn your back, die, climb or run on trees. Take your time to return to your home or safe area. Avoid direct eye contact. Bears and many other animals may consider this to be aggressive. When bears go to the ground, huffs, puffs, chunks, snorting or run directly at you, they are trying to scare you. When you stand on your ground, the bear will likely stop and leave. Do not climb trees. Bears are excellent climbers and often climb trees in times of fear.
Can I shoot a Florida black bear with self-defense?
Last year, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the law and signed a bill that allowed Florida residents to stand in their position and kill threatening bears.
The 2024 Self-Defense Act came into effect on July 1, 2024.
law:
Using deadly forces, you reasonably believe that your actions are necessary to avoid the imminent threat of death or imminent threat of serious injury to yourself, your pet or your home. If so, you will be allowed to kill the bear. 。 “Notice will be provided to the FWC within 24 hours. One person may not “own, sell, or dispose” of a dead bear or any part of it.
The fine for violation is $5,000.
If a bear attacks, protect yourself
If the black bear is in contact with you, try to fight back aggressively.
“People successfully dodged the Black Bears using rocks, sticks, and even bare hands,” the FWC said.
FWC has a Wildlife Warning Hotline
If you encounter an injured, orphan, or dead bear, or someone who is injuring or feeding a bear, please call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.
Contributor: James Cole, Florida Capitol Reporter
