That big, fuzzy black critter that just showed up in the backyard, not a dog. Do not try to pet it, and do not offer it food as more than likely you’ve got a bear paying you a visit. I always recommend giving bears as much space as possible! But, beware, this time of year, you might spot bears in unexpected places as yearling bears up to two and a half years old start venturing away from their mothers’ home ranges to find their own way in the world. These youngsters travel widely in their search for new habitats; they can sometimes find themselves in places where people don’t expect to see them, such as parks, neighborhoods, or even the beach! So, what do you do if you see or hear of one in your area?
Just keep your distance and never approach them. Typically, bears will move along on their own if given space. Spot a bear in a tree? The same thing; give them space, and they’ll typically come down and leave the area once they feel there is no threat.
Remove any food attractants that could encourage hungry bears to stick around, like trash cans, uncleaned grills, outside pet food and bird feeders. Oh yeah, bears love them some birdseed.
To keep your dogs safe and avoid interactions between pets and bears, try walking dogs on a short leash. When letting pets outside, bang on the door and flash outside lights first to hopefully spook off bears and other wildlife so they’ll leave your yard.
Bear populations have greatly expanded, and they can be found in all parts of our state, and with the unrestricted (it seems) development of our state, the loss of our wild lands has been pushing the bears into greater and more frequent contact with humans. In order to avoid a series of legal battles with animal rights groups to allow a bear season, our state legislature passed a law that anybody threatened by a bear may use deadly force to end the encounter.
But, be cautious about such things because you had darn sure be able to prove that the war was indeed a dangerous threat. Just about any student of wildlife conservation can identify the need for a bear season to bring the population numbers down to proper levels. You can’t just ignore the fact that in just the last few years, 13 people have been injured by bear attacks, according to our Florida Wildlife Commission. That’s thirteen too many in my opinion where there is a scientific, fact-based answer. We need a bear season with limited harvest to bring the population within the carrying capacity of our wild lands.
Just know, the best doesn’t want to give you any trouble, he’s just out trying to find a home and a fast food source to fill his almost insatiable belly. Retreat and let him do the same and more than likely, all will end well.
If you have any questions or comments about bear activity, give me a shout at [email protected]. God Bless, and good hunting!
