Thursday, March 28, 2024

BearWise® tips for spring, as bears become more active


Spring has arrived and wildlife is becoming more active, including our state’s black bears. With this increase in activity, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is sharing ways to be BearWise® to help prevent conflicts between people and bears.

Black bears are on the move more this time of year in search of things to eat, including female bears that are teaching their cubs where to look for food. To prevent bears and other wildlife from associating your yard with an easy meal, remove potential food sources and attractants – such as unsecured garbage, pet food and bird seed – from around your property. Florida black bears typically try to avoid people but may linger in neighborhoods if they can easily access food sources. Bears will move on if they can’t find food.

Help avoid negative interactions with bears by following these tips and BearWise® Basics this spring:

1: Never feed or approach bears

  • Always give bears and other wildlife space — getting too close to a wild animal can be dangerous.
  • It is illegal in Florida to intentionally feed bears or leave out food or garbage that will attract bears and cause conflicts.
  • Feeding bears can make them associate people with food and lose their natural fear of humans.

2: Secure potential bear food sources

3: Remove or secure bird and wildlife feeders

  • Remove bird and other wildlife feeders when bears are more active in the spring and fall.
  • If feeders are left up, only put enough food out for birds and other wildlife to finish eating before dark and make feeders bear-resistant.

4: Don’t leave pet food outside

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

5: Clean and store grills

  • Clean and degrease grills and smokers after each use.
  • If moveable, keep them stored in a secure shed or garage.

6: Alert neighbors to bear activity

  • If you see a bear, share sightings with your neighbors.
  • Share these BearWise® 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.

Black bears are generally not aggressive but they have injured people in Florida. Dogs in particular can trigger defensive behaviors from bears, especially females with cubs. When walking dogs, keep them close to you on a short leash and stay aware of your surroundings. Before letting your dog outside in your yard, flip exterior lights on and off and bang on the door to give bears and other wildlife a chance to leave the area.

Bears cross more roadways as they become more active this time of year. To avoid vehicle collisions with bears and other wildlife, slow down when driving, particularly on rural highways at dawn or dusk. Look for road signs identifying bear and other wildlife crossing areas. Each year in Florida, an average of 250 bears are killed after being hit by vehicles.

Having conflicts with bears? FWC should be your first call - our staff are here to help. Please call one of the FWC’s five regional offices to speak with a biologist about the specifics of your situation to help resolve any conflicts. Go to MyFWC.com/Contact and click on “Contact Regional Offices” to find the phone number for your region. If you want to report someone who is either harming bears or intentionally feeding them, call the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

More information is available at MyFWC.com/Bear, where you can access the “Guide to Living in Bear Country” brochure. Find additional ways to be BearWise at BearWise.org. Thirty-eight states, including Florida, support BearWise®, an innovative program that helps people learn ways to responsibly live around bears. Help us help bears and other wildlife by purchasing the Conserve Wildlife license plate at WildlifeFlorida.org/CWT.

Spring is an active time for many of Florida’s wildlife species. For more information on wildlife in Spring, visit MyFWC.com/News and click on “Spring Wildlife News.” 





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Florida Nature Trackers Newsletter, Spring 2024

green pine scrub field with scattered pine trees below a partly cloudy sky

FLORIDA NATURE TRACKERS NEWSLETTER

SPRING 2024

New Bald Cypress Boardwalk and Trail

The FWC’s newly completed Bald Cypress Boardwalk and Trail at J. W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area in Palm Beach County gives visitors majestic views of a wetland full of cypress trees adorned with air plants.

On the trail, you can also explore slash pine flatwoods, sawgrass wetlands and a hardwood hammock. Along the way you might see red-cockaded woodpeckers, warblers, river otters, raccoons and wading birds like herons, egrets and ibises.

To plan your visit, see FWC's webpage for J.W. Corbett WMA.

View of the Bald Cypress Boardwalk winding through a dense forest

Bald Cypress Boardwalk and Trail at J. W. Corbett WMA


Enjoy the Cove! 

The following article was contributed by Jaya Milam, a resident of Steinhatchee, Florida, whose family has been visiting Hagen's Cove at the Tide Swamp Unit of Big Bend WMA for many years. Jaya completed the Coastal Systems of Florida course, part of the Florida Master Naturalist Program, and concentrated on Hagen's Cove for her final project. She’s also involved in the Leave Nothing But Footprints messaging found at public parks in Taylor County. 

Hagen's Cove has always been one of my all-time favorite places to visit and de-stress, surrounded by the natural beauty and habitat of Florida's native coastline. Gazing across the various landscapes makes you realize what a hidden gem Florida has tucked away in this cove. 

It's a privilege to have this natural coastline so close by, offering wonderful views that have remained unchanged for many years. It provides a calming experience, allowing you to leave your cares and worries aside for a few minutes of serene bliss and appreciation for life in this peaceful environment. 

Two images of women recreating on the coast and scalloping in the ocean

Jaya and her family enjoying the beach and scalloping at Hagen's Cove

Our family has been coming here for years, enjoying everything Hagen’s Cove has to offer. Whether the tide is in or out, the view is always absolutely gorgeous! 

Whether it's bird watching, fishing, or scalloping, it's always an enjoyable time, even if you lose your snorkeling gear on the sea floor. Have no fear; the tide will go out, allowing you to retrieve your lost treasures with a little patience, as our young daughter learned during one of our many scalloping adventures at Hagen’s Cove. 

Many times, there are pockets of deeper water that make great swimming holes to rejuvenate and chill on a hot summer day. Just be cautious of your feet; small critters may be very interested in a nibble to find out what you are about.

Man standing behind a blue boat on the coast

Here are some memories from another local (who happens to be my husband): 

Growing up in the area, Hagen's Cove was a frequent destination for my family. We enjoyed barbecue cookouts, swimming, and simply being outdoors. One of my favorite memories is trekking back up into Oyster Creek, the small creek on the south side of the recreation area. Far into the estuary, we would find locations where tidal currents had dug out what we called "doodle" holes around the points of land, making excellent swimming holes. We spent many hours enjoying those excursions. 

After a stressful day, I come to Hagen’s Cove to relax, taking in the tranquil nature and spectacular views from the lookout tower. It's a time to put everything aside and get a greater perspective on life, appreciating the privilege of having such a wonderful natural place to unwind and enjoy in our backyard. 

Sunsets are absolutely amazing from anywhere in Hagen's Cove. It’s an incredible experience to watch the sun disappear beneath the waves. After the sky fades to black, Hagen’s Cove also serves as a great location to set up a telescope and enjoy the heavens’ display. 

Let’s watch out for the residents living in the habitat and preserve their living environments so they can exist in the comforts of their own homes. 

These wonderful places are worth preserving and protecting for everyone to enjoy and for future generations to come, leaving nothing but footprints. If we all do our part, this place will be an absolute treasure for those to come. 


Wildlife to Watch for This Season

Keep an eye out for these wildlife happenings in spring.

  • Frogs and toads move to ponds, streams and ditches to breed following rains. 
  • Horseshoe crabs lay eggs on coastal beaches on a full moon at high tide. 
  • Snakes and other reptiles are more active and likely to be seen in yards and gardens. 
  • River otter pups and bobcat kittens will be born April through May. 
  • Wood storks in North Florida begin courtship and nesting. 
  • Watch for hummingbirds feeding on blooms of columbine, buckeye, and feeders. 
  • Courtship ritual of adult alligators begins, noted by the loud and resounding bellows and water slapping. 
Close-up images of a carolina wren, sturgeon, swallowed-tail kite, and river otter

Carolina wren (Upper left); Gulf sturgeon (Upper right); Swallowed-tail kite (Lower left); River otter (Lower right)


Explore an Old-Growth Hardwood Hammock at Andrews WMA 

Located in Levy County, Andrews WMA protects the last large tract of a hardwood hammock that once stretched over 20,000 acres along the Suwannee River. 

What is a Hammock? 

You may have only ever heard the term “hammock” referring to a bed made of rope suspended between two trees. When it comes to natural areas, though, a hammock is a stand of trees that differ from their surrounding habitats. The hammock at Andrews WMA is mostly oak, pignut hickory and southern magnolia trees. The pine forests found in surrounding areas are noticeably scarce. Old-growth forests like the hammock at Andrews WMA can only be experienced in a few places in the state. 

View of an oak tree, looking up

Who Lives in Hammocks? 

Hardwood hammocks, especially ones with old trees, provide countless homes to native wildlife. Small mammals and bats raise their young in the hollows of dead or dying trees. Fallen bark shelters the beautiful Eastern coral snake as well as the lizards on which it feeds. The tree canopy provides a place for birds to find their insect food and raise young. When you visit Andrews WMA, look high and low to fully experience the wildlife found in the hammock. 


Advertisement for Florida WildQuest featuring a burrowing owl

Florida WildQuest 2024 

It's almost time for Florida WildQuest 2024!

April 27 through May 5 grab your phone and go on a wild adventure to complete scavenger hunt missions and discover some of Florida’s best spots to see wildlife and enjoy the outdoors. This year’s event will take place on all Wildlife Management Areas across the state.

Visit FloridaWildQuest.com to learn more! 


Make a Wildlife Refuge at Home

Advertisement for the book, Planting a Wildlife Refuge

Want to see more spring flowers and pollinators at your home? FWC’s 40-page Planting a Refuge for Wildlife booklet is designed to help Floridians grow a refuge for wildlife at home and in their communities. 

Purchase your copy of Planting a Refuge for Wildlife for $5 plus tax from the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida. 


#WMAmazing

Share your pic of any plant or animal on a WMA with #WMAzing and we just might include your photo in a future edition of the Nature Trackers Newsletter!

 
a shallow creek in the shade of oak tree limbs and surrounded by palmettos




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