Florida Black Bear

Everyone, at least those of a certain vintage, remembers Yogi Bear and Boo-boo. The mischievous pair of celluloid bruins entertained millions, if not more, with their harmless antics in the fictional Jellystone Park.
If only truth were as pleasant and simple as the fictional creations of cartoonist. In reality, bears are apex predators with a sometimes unhealthy appetite for the products and waste created by humanity.
The Florida black bears found in Jefferson County live mainly in forested habitats and are adept at survival in the woodlands of mixed hardwoods and pines. They are also at home in the watery lowlands and swamps adjacent to the area’s rivers.

Technically, Florida black bears (Ursus americanus floridanus) are a subspecies of the American black bear. They have historically ranged throughout most of the state and southern parts of Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi.

Bears are the largest native animal on Florida soil and are one of six species worldwide which are omnivorous, or with a willingness to eat plant and animal based foodstuffs. The two dietary exceptions are polar bears, which are strictly carnivorous and pandas, which consume primarily bamboo.
Bears live mostly in the northern hemisphere in temperate zones. A total of eight different species live in North America, South America, Europe and Asia.

Florida’s black bears lead a solitary life most of the year, excluding interaction during mating season. They tend not to be territorial and typically do not possess or defend a limited range from other bears, except to drive away male cubs which have reached the ability to survive in the wild.

Black bears have good eyesight, acute hearing and an excellent sense of smell. Therein lays the root of the big issues with human interaction.

Bears have a long, narrow, curled shelf of bone which protrudes into the breathing passage of their nose. Dogs and hogs, both known for their keen ability to sense very faint odors, have similar nasal configurations.

Termed as turbinates or nasal concha, this internal structure provides bears with the capability to fulfill their collective desire for tasty calories. With the search for food at the top of the daily activity list, this is especially true in the autumn when they instinctively know seasonal shortages are near.

Not known as persnickety eaters, bears will dine on a wide variety of edible items, depending on the time of year and availability. One misconception is bears raid honeybee hives for the honey, when it is the protein rich larvae they are really after.

When available, odorous trashcans offer the prospects of a smorgasbord which bears literally rip into with savage abandon. The situation can be controlled by keeping the garbage secured until the day of pickup.

In extreme situations, bear resistant (since few structures are truly bear proof) trash containers or lockable garbage storage can be used. While the bears may not appreciate the food restrictions, this small conciliation is commercially available and a non-lethal restraint is a plus for them (and neighboring humans).

Research has indicated that access to garbage may cause bears to associate people with food which puts both people and bears at risk. When bears become reliant on garbage, pet food, bird seed or other manmade sources they lose their natural fear of humans.

These dependent bears are more likely to be killed as a result of vehicle collisions, illegal shooting or euthanasia to prevent risks to human safety. There is also a relationship between the presence of garbage and increased bear attacks on people.

Restrictive diets are never easy, but it is better for the local king of the forest and the human resident of Jefferson County. Remember the signs in Jellystone Park and “Please Don’t Feed the Bears.”
To learn more about the Florida’s bears and bear proofing in Monticello and Jefferson County, contact the nearest UF/IFAS County Extension Office. To read more stories by Les Harrison visit: Outdoorauthor.com and follow him on Facebook.