9 ways to protect yourself from bears in Florida as fall approaches

ORLANDO, Fla. — As the weather cools during the fall, Florida black bears tend to emerge, looking for food.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, bears are more visible this time of year as they go out seeking the calories they need to live off their fat through the winter.

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Here are 9 “BearWise” tips that can be used to help protect pets, property, and yourself from encounters with hungry bears:

• Mind your trash - Perhaps the most common bear safety rule of thumb: Be sure household garbage is secured in a shed, garage, or wildlife-resistant container. Also, consider putting trash out for pickup in the morning rather than the night before.

• Mind your pets - Consider feeding pets indoors or bringing the dishes in after feeding. When walking your dog, be aware of your surroundings and use a short, non-retractable leash.

• No free meals - Protect gardens and livestock with electric fencing if possible. Pick ripe fruit from trees and remove fallen fruit from the ground.

• Regulation - Encourage your homeowner’s association or local government to enact ordinances requiring trash to be secured from bears.

• Bear ‘grills’ - Keep your grill clean and stored securely.

• Stay away - It should go without saying, but don’t ever approach or feed a bear.

• Scare the bear - If a bear does enter your yard, you might try to scare it. First, make sure you’re in a safe area and the bear has a clear escape route, then let it know it’s not welcome by making noise or using items like paintballs, bear spray, or other ‘contact’ methods allowed by FWC guidelines to scare it away.

• Work together - Encourage neighbors to become “BearWise” right along with you, and be vigilant against people intentionally (and illegally) placing food or garbage out to attract bears. If you see a person feeding or attracting bears, call FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at (888) 404-3922 or report it online here.

• See something say something - Finally, if you’re having frequent encounters with bears in your neighborhood, contact your local FWC field office.

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For more information Florida’s bear population and how-to videos on a wide range of other bear safety topics click here.

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