Safely Coexist with Bears

FWC releases new videos to help Florida residents avoid conflicts with bears As part of ongoing efforts to reduce conflicts with bears, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is releasing two new videos in the “Living with Florida Black Bears” series. These videos are designed to help educate the public about how to safely coexist with bears in Florida. Knowing how to interpret bear behavior can help people react appropriately when they have a close encounter with a bear. The “Scare the Bear” video illustrates how residents can reduce conflicts with bears that may come onto their property. Bears are driven by their need for food and powerful sense of smell, which often leads them into neighborhoods and areas with readily accessible food sources. A bear that has been frightened by people is less likely to stay in areas where people are present, which reduces the risk to public safety. “As bears spend more time in neighborhoods, they begin to lose their natural fear of people, which can lead to dangerous encounters. These videos highlight steps that can be taken to ensure the safety of both bears and humans.” The new videos are being added to the existing “Living with Florida Black Bears” series, which already includes the following videos: How to Make Your Wildlife Feeders Bear-Resistant How FWC Conducts Bear Population Estimates A Day in the Life of a Florida Black Bear How to Protect Livestock and Pets from Bears Cause for a Call BearWise Communities The FWC plans to release more bear-related videos in the coming months. In addition to educational efforts, the FWC is inviting local governments to apply for BearWise funding for their communities. A total of $515,000 will be available to offset the costs for communities to use bear-resistant equipment to secure their garbage and help reduce conflicts with bears.