Black bear 'season' is here. What to do (and not do) if you see one

Fall is approaching, which means Florida black bears will be out and about searching for food before winter.

Bears start consuming more calories in the fall to store up fat reserves for the winter, even in Florida when not hibernating as long as they do in colder climates, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Bear encounters aren't quite as rare as many Santa Rosa County residents would like for them to be. In 2018, the News Journal reported that the FWC received 1,879 calls related to bears in Northwest Florida .

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An interactive map showing bear handlings and calls showed that between 2021 and 2022, FWC received over 1,250 reports in Santa Rosa County alone.

But as the county continues to grow , and as more natural habitats are razed for an increasing number of housing subdivisions, it's possible that human/bear interactions will become more frequent.

Here's everything you need to know to prevent a bear encounter and what to do in case of one.

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How to prevent bear encounters

Bear encounters aren't an unavoidable eventuality. In most instances, bears are largely attracted to areas where they can find unsecured garbage containers. Here are the best ways to decrease the chance of running into a bear:

Never feed or approach bears

• Feeding bears can make them lose their natural fear of people.
• It is illegal in Florida to intentionally feed bears or leave out food or garbage that will attract bears and cause conflicts.
• Getting close to a wild animal is dangerous.

Secure food and garbage

• Store garbage in a sturdy shed or garage and then put it out on the morning of pickup rather than the night before.
• If not stored in a secured building, modify your existing garbage can to make it more bear-resistant or use a bear-resistant container.
• Secure commercial garbage in bear-resistant dumpsters .
• Protect gardens, beehives, compost and livestock with electric fencing .
• Pick ripe fruit from trees and bushes and remove fallen fruit from the ground.

Remove or secure bird feeders

• Remove bird feeders where bears are present.
• If bird feeders are left up, only put enough food out for birds to finish eating before dark
• Use other options to attract birds, not bears.

Never leave pet food outdoors

• Feed pets indoors.
• If feeding pets outdoors, only put food outside for short time periods and bring in leftover food and dishes after each feeding.

Clean and store grills

• Clean and degrease grills and smokers after each use.
• If mobile, store them in a secure shed or garage.

Alert neighbors to bear activity

• If you see a bear, let your neighbors know.
• Share tips on how to avoid conflicts with bears.
• Encourage your homeowner’s association or local government to institute bylaws or ordinances to require trash be kept secure.

In 2016, Santa Rosa County passed a Bear-Wise Safety Ordinance to help prevent human/bear conflicts.

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This ordinance states that all Santa Rosa County residents in unincorporated areas south and west of Eglin Air Force Base must keep their garbage secure from bears and other wildlife, either through the use of a bear-resistant can or by storing garbage in an enclosed area until 6 a.m. of the day of collection. The full ordinance is available online at www.santarosa.fl.gov .

Counties can apply for state funding for bear-resistant trash cans that will then be available to residents at a reduced cost. However, a $300,000 grant awarded to the county by the FWC in 2017 that would have purchased bear-resistant trash cans for citizens was turned down by County Commissioners since it required a $150,000 match . Commissioners argued the grant would only serve around 15% of the population that has to deal with bears.

Adams Sanitation is now promising to deliver, free of charge, bear resistant cans to its South Santa Rosa County customer base.

What to do if you encounter a bear

Encountering a bear from a distance is usually a good time to enjoy the experience, according to FWC. However, you shouldn't approach the bear. Begin to take the following steps if the bear’s behavior changes based on your presence:

• Stand upright
• Speak to the bear in a calm, assertive voice
• Slowly back up to a secure location, leaving the bear a clear escape route
• Avoid direct eye contact as this could be perceived as aggressive behavior
• Stop and hold your ground if the movement irritates instead of calms the bear

Here’s what the FWC says you shouldn’t do:

• Do not make any sudden or abrupt movements
• Do no run, this can trigger a chase instinct and bears can sprint up to 35 miles per hour
• Do not play dead, black bears eat dead things
• Do not climb a tree, they can climb faster than you, too
• Do not approach or surprise a bear, especially if one might be injured

The FWC says that you should aggressively fight back if a black bear attacks you. People have successfully fended off black bear attacks using simple tools like rocks and sticks or even their bare hands.

Can you shoot a bear?

Black bears are protected by law and it's illegal to shoot them without an FWC-issued hunting license or depredation permit, unless it is to protect a human life. Florida currently does not have an open regulated bear hunting season at this time.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Black bear 'season' is here. What to do (and not do) if you see one