FWC urges Floridians to ‘Be BearWise’ as bears become more active this spring

FLORIDA – Spring has arrived, and black bears across Florida are becoming more active, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said, urging residents and visitors to be BearWise and secure potential food sources.

In March, black bears emerge from winter dens and begin searching for food and water, often taking advantage of easy meals such as unsecured trash, bird seed or pet food left outdoors. Securing these attractants helps discourage bears from lingering in neighborhoods and reduces the chance that mother bears will teach cubs to return.

“We expect an active spring for Florida’s bears with many yearlings on the move as they disperse across the landscape,” Mike Orlando, bear management program coordinator for the FWC, said. “By following some basic tips, you can minimize the chance of conflict between people and bears, both this spring and year-round.”

Here are six at-home BearWise basics

• Never feed or approach bears.
• Remove bird feeders when bears are active.
• Feed pets inside if possible; never leave pet food outdoors.
• Clean and store grills and smokers.
• Secure food, garbage and recycling.
• Alert neighbors to bear activity.

A screened-in porch or deck counts as “outside” to a hungry black bear.

Black bears are generally not aggressive but may act defensively if threatened or provoked. Dogs can trigger defensive behavior, especially from females with cubs; keep dogs on short leashes and stay alert when walking them. Before letting a dog into the yard, flip exterior lights on and off and bang on the door to give wildlife a chance to leave.

Bears also cross more roadways this time of year. To avoid collisions with bears and other wildlife, slow down — especially on rural highways at dawn or dusk — and heed wildlife crossing signs. On average, about 300 bears in Florida are killed each year after being struck by vehicles.

If you have a bear conflict, contact the FWC for help. Visit MyFWC.com/Contact and click “Contact Regional Offices” to find the phone number for your region, or call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) to report someone harming or intentionally feeding bears. More information and the “Guide to Living in Bear Country” are available at MyFWC.com/Bear. You can also support conservation by purchasing the Conserve Wildlife license plate at WildlifeFlorida.org.

BearWise is an education and outreach program founded and supported by state wildlife agencies and now managed as a national program of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. It provides science-based guidance on living responsibly with bears.