09/05/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/05/2024 09:09
As fall approaches, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is sharing the annual reminder that our state's black bears are starting their seasonal increase in activity while in search of food before winter. Following BearWise® practices such as securing garbage and removing food attractants can help prevent negative interactions with bears, as well as with other wildlife.
Bears start consuming more calories in the fall to store up fat reserves for the winter, even in Florida when not hibernating as long as they do in colder climates. An adult bear needs to consume approximately 20,000 calories a day during the fall. This seasonal need to increase fat reserves results in more activity from bears while in search of food. When given the opportunity, bears will take advantage of easy meals from things like unsecured trash cans and bird feeders.
"People can make a big difference in preventing conflicts with hungry bears by securing or removing potential food attractants such as garbage or bird seed," said the FWC's Bear Management Program Coordinator, Mike Orlando. "When bears can't find a food source in your yard or neighborhood, they'll move on."
Want to be BearWise this fall and help prevent negative interactions with bears and other wildlife? Follow these six BearWise Basics:
1: Never feed or approach bears
2: Secure food and garbage
3: Remove or secure bird feeders
4: Never leave pet food outdoors
5: Clean and store grills
6: Alert neighbors to bear activity
While black bears generally are not aggressive, they can injure people and pets. Female bears with cubs can be particularly defensive and protective of their offspring. Dogs can trigger defensive behaviors from bears; 60% of incidents where bears injured people in Florida involved dogs. 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 lights on and off and bang on the door to give bears and other wildlife a chance to flee.
As bears increase their movements in search of food 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 signage identifying known bear crossing areas.
Having conflicts with bears? Call one of the FWC's five regional offices. Go to MyFWC.com/Contact and click on "Contact Regional Offices" to find the phone number for your region. If you want to report someone who is either harming bears or intentionally feeding them, or to report injured, orphaned or dead bears, 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. Help us help bears and other wildlife by purchasing the Conserve Wildlife tag at WildlifeFlorida.org/CWT.