FWC warns bears become more active in fall, releases tips for homeowners

As it's now officially fall, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is reminding residents to be mindful of bears.

During this time of the year, FWC says bears' appetites are increasing as they prepare for the winter.

“They go from eating about 5,000 calories a day in the summer, up to 20,000 calories a day in the fall. So, what we eat in 10 days is what a bear is eating in one day. Bears are looking for the path of resistance, or what I say, they’re smart enough to be lazy. They can spend 18 hours a day looking for acorns in the forest, or they can go into a community and get into birder feeders, a couple of trash cans, a pet food bowl on the back patio, and get those 20,000 calories in much shorter period of time and get to sleep the rest of the day,” explains Sarah Barrett, a wildlife biologist with FWC.

That's why FWC says it's so important to have your garbage secure.

To keep bears away from your home, they're recommending the following tips: 

• Secure household garbage in a sturdy shed, garage or a bear-resistant container.

• Put household garbage out on morning of pickup rather than the night before.

• Secure commercial garbage in bear-resistant dumpsters.

• Protect gardens, beehives, compost and livestock with electric fencing.

• Encourage your homeowners association or local government to institute ordinances on keeping foods that attract wildlife secure.

• Feed pets indoors or bring in dishes after feeding outdoors.

• Clean grills and store them in a secure place.

• Remove wildlife feeders or make them bear-resistant.

• Pick ripe fruit from trees and remove fallen fruit from the ground.

If you do see a bear in your neighborhood, the best thing you can do is try to scare it away.

“From a safe and secure location, try to scare that bear, is what we say. Making loud noises and reinforcing that natural fear and weariness that they have of people.  So, while their stomach is driving them to venture out a little further than they normally would, by reinforcing that natural fear, you’re letting them know they’re not welcome in your yard for that food reward,” says Barrett.

But, if you do see a bear exhibiting unusual behavior, including not being scared by loud sounds, they want you to give FWC a call.

FWC warns this time of the year also often leads bears across busy roads, especially around dusk and dawn.

To reduce the risk of hitting a bear, they're asking drivers to stay alert and drive cautiously around heavily wooded areas.

Cox Media Group