Understanding Human/Bear Conflicts in Florida Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
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Understanding Human/Bear Conflicts in Florida Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Division of Law Enforcement Division of Wildlife Office of Informational Services Don’t Don’t Feed Feed Bears Bears Yes, we have bears in Florida! Photo by Charles Towne Don’t Don’t Feed Feed Bears Bears Current Bear Range in Florida Bear Range Primary Secondary County Boundary Water City Limits Don’t Don’t Feed Feed Bears Bears Florida’s Growing Human Population illionnss ooff PPeeoopple le MM illio 20 20 15 15 GG Human Population 16 million residents 5 million visitors daily GG Future Projections 20 million residents by the year 2020 Continued development 10 10 55 00 1900 1900 1930 1930 1960 1960 Year Year 1990 1990 2020 2020 Don’t Don’t Feed Feed Bears Bears Florida’s Growing Human Population GG Development Urban sprawl into historically remote areas New residents who are unfamiliar with Florida’s native wildlife Don’t Don’t Feed Feed Bears Bears Human/Bear Interactions in Florida Number Number of of Bear Bear Calls Calls Received Received by by FWC FWC 1200 1200 1136 1136 1000 1000 600 600 450 450 389 389 359 359 400 400 Year Year 2000 2000 1999 1999 1998 1998 1997 1997 1996 1996 1995 1995 1994 1994 1993 1993 1992 1992 1991 1991 1990 1990 1989 1989 227 227 210 210 144 144 104 104 94 90 94 85 90 85 82 82 83 83 1988 1988 1987 1987 1986 1986 1985 1985 1984 1984 1983 1983 1981 1981 38 42 42 16 38 66 16 1980 1980 33 99 1979 1979 00 10 88 11 00 10 1982 1982 200 200 1978 1978 Number Number 800 800 Don’t Don’t Feed Feed Bears Bears Bear Calls by Region, 1978 - 2000 North Central 187 Southwest 196 390 South 625 Northwest 2119 Northeast 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 Don’t Don’t Feed Feed Bears Bears Types of Human/Bear Conflicts in Florida (NN == 3,608) 3,608) In In Building Building (86) (86) Threatened Threatened Animal Animal (109) (109) Threatened Threatened Human Human (54) (54) Misc. Misc. (43) (43) Property Property Damage Damage (142) (142) In In Feed(er) Feed(er) (163) (163) In In Area Area // Yard Yard (1480) (1480) Injured Injured // Sick Sick (223) (223) Beeyard Beeyard (230) (230) Killed Killed Animal Animal (248) (248) Carcass Carcass (284) (284) In In Garbage Garbage (546) (546) Don’t Don’t Feed Feed Bears Bears Bears in Town Don’t Don’t Feed Feed Bears Bears Bears in Garbage Don’t Don’t Feed Feed Bears Bears Property Damage by Bears Don’t Don’t Feed Feed Bears Bears Gardens Bird Feeders Compost Piles HUMAN HUMAN FOOD FOOD SOURCES SOURCES Fruit Trees Garbage Livestock CAUSE CAUSE Back Yard Grills BEAR BEAR CONFLICTS! CONFLICTS! Food Pantries Freezers Pet Food Don’t Don’t Feed Feed Bears Bears Unprotected Garbage Don’t Don’t Feed Feed Bears Bears Back Yard Bird Feeders Photo by Milt Fox Photo by Milt Fox Don’t Don’t Feed Feed Bears Bears Pet Food and Other Items Don’t Don’t Feed Feed Bears Bears Habituation and Loss of Fear GG Bears that consistently feed from human food sources will associate people with food and lose their natural fear of humans. GG Nuisance problems quickly follow. GG This pattern is difficult to break and property damage often results. GG Management action may become necessary. Photo by Milt Fox Don’t Don’t Feed Feed Bears Bears Management Options Are Limited GG Technical Assistance best option dependent on cooperation of land owner Don’t Don’t Feed Feed Bears Bears Management Options Are Limited GG Trap and release on site GG Trap and relocate high mortality rates recidivism common no remote areas left moving problem to new area GG Euthanasia may become necessary to protect human safety Don’t Don’t Feed Feed Bears Bears The Key to Avoiding Conflicts Is Making Human Food Sources Unavailable to Bears Don’t Don’t Feed Feed Bears Bears Bear Proof Garbage Containers Don’t Don’t Feed Feed Bears Bears Electric Fencing Don’t Don’t Feed Feed Bears Bears Be Bear Aware GG If you are in bear country: Use bear proof garbage containers and put trash out the morning of pickup. Place electric fencing around gardens and other food sources. Remove pet food from outdoor areas. Remove bird feeders if bears in area. Clean grills and store in secure area. Don’t Don’t Feed Feed Bears Bears FWC Cares About Bears . . . Do You? GG Remember to respect bears; do not fear them. GG With the proper understanding and precautions, humans and bears can coexist peaceably. Don’t Don’t Feed Feed Bears Bears
