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Florida Friendly | Bear, Pool, and Landscape
Feeding bears or allowing the placement of food accessible by bears is prohibited by law. Bears do not view humans as prey, but can and will learn to associate humans with food if they are continually rewarded with free meals from garbage cans and dumpsters. A fed bear is a dead bear. Bears that obtain human-sourced food can lose their natural fear of people and potentially become a public safety threat that may require trapping and killing. Relocating the bear is not a permanent solution, as another bear will find unsecured attractants. Secure food sources that attract bears to your yard in locked, enclosed areas, such as a garage or shed. If you do not have a garage or shed, consider:
- Build a trash caddy (3 designs available) – slated, enclosed, and general) for your cans for storage until the morning of pick-up,
- Create an electric fence perimeter
- Make an electric unwelcome mat
- Add a retrofit kit to your cans if permissible by the waste hauler
- Purchase a bear-resistant container that your county waste hauler can service
Not sure what is attracting bears? Take the quiz.
Pets: It is possible to live in bear country safely with your dogs and cats without experiencing a negative encounter. Bears are typically not interested in pets as prey. However, most pet-bear encounters occur when pets defend their owners, pets are left unattended in a fenced yard, or pets are free-roaming. If pets give chase to bears, bears will defend themselves and their young. Follow the tips in this video or the “Protect your Pets from Bears and Coyotes” brochure link.
Bears generally avoid people and can be scared off by using sudden loud noises. This video focuses on bear behavior helping you assess how to safely react to a bear based on the behavior displayed. This video discusses how to safely haze a bear without putting yourself or the bear at risk. Check out the video demonstration link on the use and effectiveness of bear spray.
Property damage:
Fence damage due to bears is common in communities where bears are accessing food sources. If bears are unable to see the food source or need to use your yard as a shortcut, they may damage your fence. Inspect your yard for attractants and expect the bear to return if it was rewarded with food. Motion-activated alarms or motion-activated water sprinklers can also be useful in deterring bears. In some cases, electric fencing can be used to prevent bears from climbing and damaging privacy fences.
POOL USE:
For all pool users: If you open an umbrella, please close it and tie it shut before leaving. It’s very important that the umbrellas are tied to prevent the wind from breaking them and hurting someone. Thank you.