The bears are not starving, just healthy

As a seventh generation Northwest Florida native, I’ve grown up in bear country. I genuinely care about you and your child and want to give you the very best information I can on how to live safely near Florida black bears.

The bear safety tip I would like to cover with you today pertains to something I hear from a lot of people, "The bears are so skinny; they are just starving out there."  Well, they actually are not starving.

Imagine I am a bear that was raised by my mother in the forest.  My mother only raised me on salad and water, my natural foods.  I grow up and wander into a community and find little buffet boxes (we call trash cans) on every corner.  I discover soda, burgers, fried chicken, pizza, candy, Mexican food, Chinese food, and I'm now converted!  I can't resist this great stuff! I know sometimes I could use a lock on my refrigerator to keep me out of some tempting high calorie foods that are creating bad habits for me.

A bear that roots around in our trash needs us to lock our cans in a shed, or a bear-proof trash can, to help the bear resist food temptations in our neighborhoods and go back to having their natural foods in the woods again. Wild bears eating natural foods will always look more slender and fit than those eating foods they get from people.

For more information on how to keep bears wild and in the woods and out of our neighborhoods, log on to www.myfwc.com or for a complete bear presentation with safety tips and more, contact me at mariafwc@gmail.com.

As always stay calm, back away slowly, don't make eye contact and I will see you next time with more Bear Safety Tips.  Take care.

Maria Williams is an outreach specialist for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Bear Management Program.