Florida Fish and Wildlife described Seminole County as “bear country” in their pitch for people to come to a talk Monday night about living with bears. Hoping to help residents learn how to understand bear behavior and safely coexist with them. Whether it was the White Claw-drinking bear in Lake Mary or the bear snatching a food delivery from someone’s front door in Longwood, plenty of people have seen bears pretty close to home in Seminole County. “Often yes,” said Gale Phelps, who lives outside Sanford near the Wekiva River. He’s lived there for decades. But this summer, he saw more bears than usual. “A female and two cubs throughout the summer several times go through my yard,” he said. So he came out to the meeting Monday night to learn more about his frequent visitors. “I just want to learn more about the bears and how I can not interfere with them but yet enjoy seeing them,” he said. An FWC contractor explained in incidents they’ve recorded where a person came into contact with a bear, 61% involved dogs. So she recommended not taking them for a walk at dawn, dusk, or after dark. And even if you haven’t seen bears in your neighborhood, keep in mind anything that attracts dogs, cats, or raccoons can also attract bears. Phelps learned he’s doing some things right already- like following her recommendation to not put your trash out the night before pickup. “I do not put my trash out until the morning of trash pickup,” Phelps said. “But I do have neighbors that put it out the night before, and it’s often dumped by the next morning.”People who went to the meeting also got the number to call if they think someone could be attracting bears. Phelps may need to warn his neighbors. “Yes. Or call the number,” he said with a laugh. You can find more information about living with bears from the FWC here.
Florida Fish and Wildlife described Seminole County as “bear country” in their pitch for people to come to a talk Monday night about living with bears. Hoping to help residents learn how to understand bear behavior and safely coexist with them.
Whether it was the White Claw-drinking bear in Lake Mary or the bear snatching a food delivery from someone’s front door in Longwood, plenty of people have seen bears pretty close to home in Seminole County.
“Often yes,” said Gale Phelps, who lives outside Sanford near the Wekiva River. He’s lived there for decades. But this summer, he saw more bears than usual.
“A female and two cubs throughout the summer several times go through my yard,” he said.
So he came out to the meeting Monday night to learn more about his frequent visitors.
“I just want to learn more about the bears and how I can not interfere with them but yet enjoy seeing them,” he said.
An FWC contractor explained in incidents they’ve recorded where a person came into contact with a bear, 61% involved dogs.
So she recommended not taking them for a walk at dawn, dusk, or after dark.
And even if you haven’t seen bears in your neighborhood, keep in mind anything that attracts dogs, cats, or raccoons can also attract bears.
Phelps learned he’s doing some things right already- like following her recommendation to not put your trash out the night before pickup.
“I do not put my trash out until the morning of trash pickup,” Phelps said. “But I do have neighbors that put it out the night before, and it’s often dumped by the next morning.”
People who went to the meeting also got the number to call if they think someone could be attracting bears.
Phelps may need to warn his neighbors.
“Yes. Or call the number,” he said with a laugh.
You can find more information about living with bears from the FWC here.
