Florida is bear country. Large expanses of the Sunshine State are home to black bears. Bear populations are growing, and human interaction is more frequent. Black bears generally are not aggressive, and there are no known human deaths from black bear encounters. But it is still something you want to avoid.
Bear country is in the Big Cypress Preserve in southwest Florida, the growing suburbs north of Orlando, the Ocala and Apalachicola national forests, and other scattered pockets around the state. It is not uncommon to see videos on the news of bears walking suburban streets, toppling garbage cans, climbing a tree in someone’s front yard, and even breaking into screened porches.
The Ocala National Forest office publishes a list of dos and don’ts for camping in bear country. The advice is equally appropriate for homeowners in bear areas.
Food Storage
Do not possess, store or leave any food, refuse, or bear attractant unless it is:
-Properly stored in a bear proof container
-Suspended at least 10 feet clear of the ground, and 4 feet from a tree
-Stored in a closed and locked motor vehicle
-Do not discard or abandon any food unless it is disposed of in a bear proof trash container or dumpster.
Avoid Attracting Bears
-Properly dispose of food scraps and garbage.
-Do not leave food or garbage around grills, fire rings, or camp sites.
-Never leave food or cooler unattended.
-Where bear-proof containers are not available, store food and garbage inside a vehicle or trailer.
-Do not cook or store food near your tent or RV.
-Cook food before sunset.
-Change clothes after cooking, wash hands before sleeping so you don’t smell like food.
– DO NOT FEED BEARS…EVER! It’s illegal.
Anything having an odor can attract bears. Food, beverages, cooking grease, toothpaste, soap, toiletries, game meat, pet food, bird seed, and garbage will draw bears to your property or camp site.
Bear Encounter
If approached by a bear, move back, slowly. NEVER run. Carry bear spray in your camp site and on hiking trails. Report aggressive bears to Rangers, or call Florida Fish & Wildlife at 800-404-3922.
Bears sure are cute, and there hasn’t been a bear attack on people in recent memory, but it’s getting to the point where they are a nuisance in some cases. Environmentalists say it’s all because of communities expanding into bear habitat. But others say it’s because of bear overpopulation, and advocate going back to bear hunting.
Florida last had a bear hunt in 2015, and before that it had been years since the last hunt. The hunting advocates are saying it’s time to cull the bear population again. Politically it’s a hot potato. How can you shoot a teddy bear that has its own license plate?
All pictures courtesy Florida Fish & Wildlife.