The Bear Facts

The American Black Bear has a wide range. They are found along the eastern seaboard of North America from Alaska to Northern Mexico and in parts of western United States. They roamed Florida long before subdivisions and ranchs took their property. They are very adaptable so they have learned to survive in closer proximity to humans than many other wild creatures. This very trait that helped them survive for millions of years, now is putting them on the path to extinction. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) are contemplating another bear hunt.

 Coincidentally, while the hunt is being discussed an 89-year old Collier County man was allegedly killed by a bear. Autopsy results for the man are still pending as of this writing, but it spurred the killing of three bears so far.

Bears have become wonderful scavengers and have learned to raid garbage dumps and food left outdoors for pets, which often lead to bear human clashes. This behavior has led to serious problems in Florida but there has never been a person killed by black bear until now. Bear encounters could be easily discouraged by humans using bear proof cans and not putting food out where bears are attracted to it at night. However, given a choice Governor DeSantis has already gone after the bears in 2024, when he signed a bill into law that allows state residents to shoot and kill these animals on their property without legal penalty if the shooter claims he or she felt threatened. Of course, the bear is dead and can't tell his side of the story.

In spite of the fact they have only been taken off the Endangered Species List in 2012. FWC authorized a hunt without first establishing how many bears we actually have in Florida in 2015. Then they issued unlimited permits. In spite of heavy opposition from a majority of the citizens of the state, on October 24, 2015, there were more licensed bear hunters in the woods than bears. (No one has any way of knowing how many unlicensed poachers were there as well)

Based on FWC's own projections, the Florida black bear is destined lose 2.3 million acres of habitat by 2060. Already, thanks to overdevelopment in their habitat, bears only have 18% of the habitat they once had, so naturally there will be sighting of bears in Florida neighborhoods. A few safety points are: avoid getting between a mother bear and her cubs, never feed them and do not leave food where they will smell it and be drawn to it, do not try to get too close. Normally, bears are shy and will avoid humans if possible but if you do cause it to exhibit aggressive behaviors such as running toward you, making loud noises, or pawing the ground that indicates the bear is trying to get more space. Don't ever run just slowly back away while keeping your eyes on the bear. As you move away, the bear will probably do the same.

I have enjoyed seeing these remarkable creatures in the wild occasionally, as well as in refuges and zoos. Unlike their cousins, the grizzlies, they do not hibernate. In the northern part of their habitat; they will remain in their den and dormant in winter. In Florida they may build dens in trees or palmetto thickets but do not become dormant. The only one I ever saw in Florida in the wild was in Ocala National Forest while researching my Wild About Florida books.

Momma bear teaching her two cubs how to cross a road in Cades Cove

Other states have learned that they are a attraction for visitors. Cades Cove in Great Smoky National Park is a wonderful place to see them in the wild. Last year over 10 million visitors enjoyed the park and Cades Cove is its most popular destination. I have seen bears almost every time I visited there. Once there was a mother bear and two tiny cubs near one of the old churches. We kept our distance and watched in awe. If you want to enjoy a safe bear sighting experience in the wild, Cades Cove would be my number one pick.
 

Bear cub looking down from a tree top perch

If you want to see a bear in the wild in Florida, before FWC eliminates all of our bears, I would suggest Ocala National Forest. It's, 430,000 scenic acres of the most diverse terrain imaginable.  It contains highlands, swamps, 600 lakes, countless ponds, 23 streams and springs of clear crystal water.  It's bounded by the slow, dark waters of the Ocklawaha River on the west and the larger, faster moving St. Johns River on the east. This vast forest is partially located in four counties: Marion, Lake, Putnam and Seminole.

A lone bear at Cades Cove

The forest is home to a multitude of animals and they probably have the largest population of black bears in the state.  Our one memorable sighting there was on one of the forest roads off Hwy. 19 just south of Hwy. 40. A large black bear lumbered out of the woods and crossed the road just about 100 feet ahead of us. We were too surprised to get the camera focused on him before he entered the forest on the other side of the road and disappeared among the trees. The road was really rough and had lots of deep puddles so I suggest you have a four-wheel drive if you brave it. Sadly hunting is allowed here. We can only hope the one we saw was spared.

If you're looking to see the Florida black bear in more traditional surroundings, many of the Florida zoos recognize the need to protect the beautiful creatures and have created special habitats.

Caribbean Gardens

Naples is home to Caribbean Gardens and has created Black Bear Hammock, the largest black bear exhibit at any Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited zoo east of the Mississippi. It allows the bear to romp in a suburban style backyard setting with a picnic table and kiddy pool as well as the more natural traditional habitat. The traditional habitat shows some of what had destroyed the bears' homeland over the years in Florida. Human intrusion is displayed by means of some cypress stumps and logs, a shack, and a railroad trestle over a series of descending pools. The display was home to two bears rescued several years ago.  from a private owner in York, South Carolina who had penned the cubs in a 10-by-10 concrete floored cage. Toby was four and Anna two when they arrived at the Naples Zoo. Toby passed away from cancer several years abo but Anna, now 17 still enjoys her zoo home.

Bears in a zoo enjoy social time

Central Florida Zoological Park and Botanical Gardens

Central Florida Zoological Park and Botanical Gardens is the crowning jewel of Seminole County. It's a small but well maintained zoo. Central Florida Zoo has a Florida Black Bear Habitat that house two bears brother and sister bears, Ella & Guignard. The  bears were being kept illegally by some loggers in Georgia. The cubs were  too used to interacting with people to release them in the wild.  Too often this is the problem people cause when they feed and encourage bears and do not realize they are setting the stage for a tragedy.

Palm Beach Zoo

Palm Beach Zoo began in the 1950s when Paul Dreher, Parks Director for the City of West Palm Beach, started it as a garden with a few chickens, two ducks, a goose and a goat. It has grown and become a institution in West Palm Beach. Its mission is to "protect wildlife and wildlife habitat, and to inspire others to value and conserve the natural world." 

Bear enjoys the stimulation of walking across a log

To fulfill this, one of the programs it has instituted is a unique interactive experience with their resident bears, Lewis and Clark. It's a behind the scenes look at the bear habitat in the zoo. Visitors are given a lot of information as they tour the dens and then get to feed the bears some honey. It's a simple training sequence keepers do automatically but for a person who had never worked with a bear it is an unbelievable experience. The point of the experience is not only the fun. It's a chance to learn ways to respect and protect these precious creatures.

Jacksonville Zoo

Jacksonville Zoo is one of Florida's oldest and largest zoos. It brought in its first bear in the 1960s and have fostered and protected this native animal ever since. It's Wild Florida habitat is a 2.5 acre natural wetland that is home to the bears, wolves, cranes, bald eagles, bobcats, deer and owls as well as alligators and some of Florida's reptiles and many other interesting animals.

Jacksonville Zoo bear watches the people watching him

Lowry Park Zoo

Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa is one of the country's favorite zoos. Voted the #1 Zoo in the U.S. by Parents Magazine in 2009, it offers a special children's section as well as many educational and fun exhibits for all ages. It is currently providing a safe home to three bears that would have been killed otherwise. One of the bear keepers, told me about them.  "Newberry came from around Homosassa, Florida. She is about 13 years old now but was about 6 month old when we got her."

Newberry at  Tampa Zoo enjoys her habitat

They do not know how she was orphaned. Bear cubs stay with the mother for much longer than most animals, from 16 months to two years. This is how they learn to forage and care for themselves just like human young.  Bears who lose their mothers before this often do not know how to survive.

Campbell, their other female, came from Montana at about the same time and age. She too was found orphaned. She was kept at a rehab facility for awhile but got too used to human contact so could not be released.

There is also a Sun bear named Kasey who keeps them company.

Newberry strolling along her "stream"

Bears are safe in zoos at least for now. I know there are those who say zoos are like a jail. Modern zoos are no longer those places with restless animals pacing in tiny cages. They are trying to match the native habitat and provide mental and physical stimulation for their animals. One of the things many zoos are doing is captive breeding programs. They recognize this may be the only chance to prevent extinction in endangered and threatened species. The Species Survival Plan (SSP) was developed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) in 1981. Of the eight bear species, black and brown bears are not included since 2012 when they were on the endangered list but if this type of dangerous hunting continues in Florida (or anywhere) they could be added again.

C.A.R.E. Foundation

If they gave an award for the most unique wildlife rescue sanctuary, it would surely go to C.A.R.E. Foundation Standing for Creating Animal Respect and Education.  Christin Burford, the director and driving force behind C.A.R.E., has been working to relive the plight of abused and homeless animals since 1996, when she founded the C.A.R.E. Foundation to provide a home for non-releasable exotic animals that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to place. She had brought together species that normally would not interact but at her facility they are best friends such as a pop bellied pig and a small Yorkie.

CARE is one of the refuges that take in bears that need to be housed where they cannot interact in the wild with humans. The resident black bear at CARE is Lola. Lola was used in a Florida TV show and then was going to be auctioned off (probably for a canned hunt). She has a safe home today thanks to this wonderful facility.

A large bear in a tree at Cades Cove

Zoos and refuges offer other alternatives to bear/human problems besides killing the bear. When there is a bear and human conflict where the bear cannot be relocated to a safe place in the wild, zoos and refuges are a viable alternative. If FWC feels there are too many bears, spay and neutering is yet another option. Last case scenario, when bears have to be killed, it could be done mercifully by rounding up the older sick bears and humanely putting them down. Allowing people to pay for the right to kill this magnificent creature is as barbaric as the spectacles in ancient Rome where people paid to see humans fed to lions and gladiators fight to the death. Have we not risen above this level of "sport?"

One Protest

One organization fighting to protect our bears is One Protest , that tries to protect all wildlife. If you would like to learn more about how to help stop future hunts in Florida, this is a good place to go. Their Facebook page is  https://www.facebook.com/stopbearhunt/

Here's the email for Bear Comments at FWC BearComments@MyFWC.com/
To contact more directly here is a page with senior staff info https://myfwc.com/contact/fwc-office/senior-staff/a>  If you wish to contact the Governor, https://www.flgov.com/eog/leadership/people/ron-desantis/contact/ and (850) 488-4676