On the Emerald Coast shoreline, while you and your family observe, where else can you enjoy a day by the ocean and witness a young bear struggling, American citizens have been given a fresh reminder that Florida is undeniably a fantastic destination in recent times.
In June 2023, something extraordinary occurred near Destin, Mexico, in the Gulf of Mexico, where one of the world’s most popular beaches is located. A video went viral within a few hours, showing beachgoers witnessing a black bear cub swimming ashore, amidst the mixture of turquoise blue water, sunny skies, and white sandy beaches. This was a unique sight, different from the usual combination of lightning-fast whelks and sunscreen.
The homeowners in Naples, Florida were covered by their homeowner’s policy when a pair of black bears broke into their screened pool enclosure. The homeowners looked on in amusement and wonder as the bears took a cool dip in the swimming pool. The video of this viral moment was featured on WINK news channel, Fort Myers, in late May of the previous year.
As per the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, a juvenile ebony bear was observed loitering in a tree at Lake Eola Park in Orlando, following its documentation in the vicinity for three consecutive days, a couple of days before the coastal bear.
What is the Reason Behind the Recent Surge in Black Bear Encounters?
Why have there been so many recent public reports of black bear sightings? It’s because this is a special time of year for young black bears, as they begin the transition known as “dispersal”. During this time, they may be seen in unexpected locations across a wide range of areas, as they travel and explore in search of a new home. This process involves leaving the comfort of their mother’s den and venturing into unknown territories, which can take a few months or even a couple of years for juvenile bears.
How Rare is a Bear on the Shore?
It is not uncommon to hear reports of black bears swimming in the Gulf on their way to the barrier islands in search of food. In fact, it is quite rare to see bears swimming in the surf, but they are actually quite adept swimmers. The recent sighting of a bear taking a dip in the salty water in Destin’s “bear beach” went viral worldwide, reaching news coverage as far as India.
Jeremy Cameron, one of the spectators, expressed, “Upon emerging from the ocean, he appeared extremely fatigued and fearful,” as he was guided back to the shore by a nearby fishing captain. It seems that Frank Merrell went astray in the opposite direction.
Smith Majors Jennifer, another witness, recounted, “Upon preparing lunch for my family, I caught sight of the bear. Our house is situated right by the beach, with a window facing the Gulf. I noticed a dark spot in the water and observed a boat approaching it,” she detailed. “Initially, those on the shore were unable to discern what creature was in the ocean. A man began shouting ‘Bear! Bear!’ Typically, one would anticipate hearing ‘shark’ or ‘dolphin,’ but ‘bear’ was unexpected. The bear emerged from the Gulf, appearing somewhat fatigued yet relieved. It vigorously shook its head and body to rid itself of water, and then proceeded to run. Initially, it resembled a large, playful puppy.” “We were all astounded and captivated by what we witnessed. While we all enjoy swimming in the water, we can only guess how long the bear had been in there. I have been an enthusiastic beachgoer since my teenage years, and this was an unprecedented occurrence for me,” she continued. The experience left such an impact on her that she and a friend even composed a catchy little tune titled “Bear Floatin,” which can be found on her Instagram page here.
The most recent update we received is that the bear subsequently scaled the fence onto Hwy-98. That is the bear that the neighboring condo witnessed on the tennis court the next day. On the subsequent day, very close to the initial sighting spot, the bear was observed again, presumably the same cub. It seems that Chris Barron, a visitor from Mississippi, was not too discouraged by the presence of a crowd and shared this information.
What is the Frequency of Florida Black Bears?
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, there are around 4,050 black bears, which are the exclusive type of bruin species discovered in the Sunshine State. Indeed, wild bruins wander in various areas throughout the state, and they exist in considerable quantities. It may astonish certain individuals from outside to learn about the existence of black bears in Florida.
In Florida, adult black bears generally weigh between 250 and 350 pounds, but there was one adult male bear that weighed a massive 760 pounds. In the Smoky Mountains, the Rockies out West, and in Canada up north, Florida black bears are smaller compared to their relatives. Adult female bears in Florida are also smaller, usually weighing between 130 and 180 pounds, but there was one strong sow that weighed 460 pounds and tipped the scale.
Sometimes strolling along the local streets during daylight hours, that chubby bear gained fame on social media in that Panhandle town. As it happened, a large bruin suddenly showed up on the screen, walked past his parked vehicle just a few inches away, and vanished into the darkness around midnight, only a mile or two from the Gulf of Mexico. One morning, the owner of the property was present and he gestured to Lynn to show her a video his security cameras had captured the previous night. Author, Lynn Burkhead, and his spouse encountered one of those bigger bears last summer while they were staying at a rented property near Destin on a weekend getaway.
The comparatively uncommon bear from the Sunshine State, encountered during their interaction with a video, a self-portrait, or both, some will disregard the biologists and specialists, similar to individuals visiting Yellowstone National Park every summer, in those circumstances, and occasionally, placed in close proximity to residents of Florida and holidaymakers, as they are progressively constrained by urbanization and human action, where the potential issues emerge with Florida’s trendy black bear populace.
Are Black Bears a Threat?
News reports from Arizona over the past weekend have indicated that even cute cartoon characters like bears can be deadly. However, these wild animals are not usually dangerous, except on certain occasions, of course, when the danger is present.
The tragic tale was told by those reports of a 66-year-old Tucson resident named Steven Jackson, who was mauled to death in an unprovoked attack by a black bear while he was camping on his property in the Prescott area of Arizona. The Arizonan was enjoying his morning coffee when the incident occurred.
The Fish and Game wardens from Arizona were called to the location, where they found both a dead bear and a dead Jackson. The officers from the Prescott Police Department and the deputies from YCSO arrived at the remote scene in Groom Creek, Arizona. Multiple 911 calls reportedly received by the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office over the weekend dispatched them. According to a statement on Facebook by the YCSO, a man was being mauled by a bear.
The post stated, “A black male bear, unaware of him being dragged down approximately 75 feet, appears. Mr. Jackson had been sitting at a table on his property, having coffee, where a building that was his home is located. Preliminary investigation of the scene and multiple witness accounts.”
Jackson, the first black bear attack fatality in the U.S., Tragically succumbed to the injuries he sustained during the attack after almost two years. The attack was finally put to an end when a neighbor retrieved a hunting rifle and shot and killed the bear, despite their efforts to scare it away. The neighbors acted swiftly upon hearing Jackson’s screams.
Since the start of 2020, there have been at least five fatal black bear attacks across North America, with the most recent one occurring in Arizona last weekend. While black bear attacks can be deadly, they are rare, according to bear behavior experts and biologists.
Up until now, there have been no recorded instances of fatal black bear attacks, and fatal shark attacks are also infrequent in Florida. To the best of my knowledge, there has never been a reported case of a fatal bear attack, although bear attacks do happen occasionally in Florida as well.
It doesn’t mean that it can’t happen in Arizona, but it suggests that it is rare. The state of Arizona has reportedly kept a list online since the mid-1970s of documented incidents of physical contact between a black bear and a person, showing that humans and bears can occasionally find themselves in a potentially dangerous situation.
In 2022, an incident involving physical contact between a dog and a resident took place in Seminole County on September 10. Since then, there have been no reported encounters of this nature in the state in 2023 (at the time of writing). However, in the previous year, there were eight reported incidents of physical contact between bears and humans. The online list of encounters maintained by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) shows that most of these incidents date back to 2006.
In the year 2021, there were no instances of interactions between bears and humans. Only two such incidents occurred in 2020, and the same number was recorded in 2019. The year 2018 saw three incidents, while 2017 and 2015 each had two. In 2016, there was only one incident, and both 2014 and 2013 had three incidents. It is worth noting that Florida experiences a relatively low number of bear/human contact incidents, with an average of just a few per year.
As per the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), out of those encounters, 16 of them were with a mature female bear accompanied by her offspring. It is important to mention that 19 of those instances involved an individual and a canine companion. When calculating at home, it becomes evident that there have been a total of 25 instances of physical contact between bears and humans in the past ten years, averaging at 2.5 incidents per year.
Incidents frequently occurred in the northeastern part of the state, specifically in Seminole County, with the majority of these incidents being reported during the period from 2013 to 2022.
Bear Safety: What to Do (& Not to Do) If You Come Across a Black Bear
What steps should be taken if one comes across a bear?
FWC advises encountering a bear at close proximity, just like those who were playing in the waves a few days ago in Destin. What should you do if you come across one?
FWC also states that in such human/bear encounters at short distances:
When encountering black bears in Florida, it is important to note that people have successfully defended themselves by using their hands, sticks, or even rocks. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) emphasizes that this is the final note if you encounter a black bear and need to defend yourself.
When visiting the Sunshine State of Florida, Floridians may want to memorize the suggestions provided by FWC, as the number of bear/human encounters may potentially increase as civilization builds and encroaches on these wild and mysterious places.
When is the Hunting Season for Black Bears in Florida?
According to the FWC, Florida’s black bear population, which was only a few hundred bears in the 1970s, has rebounded to over 4,000 bears today. The FWC describes this as one of Florida’s most effective conservation initiatives.
Following that period, the season was concluded, however, the FWC resumed bear hunting in 2015. Controlled bear hunting in Florida commenced in the 1930s and persisted until 1993.
The Florida Black Bear Management Plan, which was approved by the FWC Commissioners in December 2019, provides guidelines on how to manage bears in Florida for the next 10 years. The plan identifies seven distinct geographically-based subpopulations where bear occurrences happen, and sets objectives at both the Bear Management Units (BMU) level and statewide.
In the coming years, controlled hunting may be regarded as a significant alternative that was deemed necessary to be incorporated in the population control choices assessed by the 2019 scheme.
“Having the opportunity to witness hunters in Florida hunting a black bear would be a great experience,” stated Jeff Weakley, the Editor in Chief of Florida Sportsman. “The black bear is considered a traditional game species in Florida, as well as in many other states across the nation. The hides of black bears are used for various creative purposes, and the meat is enjoyed by numerous individuals. The regulations regarding seasons and limits are carefully formulated to ensure the sustainability of bear populations. The decision made by the Commissioners to allow limited hunting was grounded in solid scientific evidence and received substantial support from hunters and sportsman’s groups. Prior to the 2015 hunt, FWC biologists conducted extensive surveys of black bear populations throughout the state. Unfortunately, there was opposition from the general public, which transformed the matter into a political controversy.”
“Despite the tense atmosphere filled with alarm, the discussion took a turn when anti-hunters got involved. However, the success rate of the hunts came as a little surprise to the hunters who were familiar with the dense local black bear populations. The second day of the season, which had high success levels thanks to the skilled hunters, closed with monitoring officials approving a hunt quota of 320 bears for the 2015 season,” Weakley continued.
Georgia and South Carolina are among neighboring states that provide restricted access to bear hunting opportunities.
Adam Hegenstaller, the Editorial Director, presents a remarkably insightful column that offers exceptional coverage of hunting black bears in the latest edition of Game & Fish Magazine.
Worries about the Habitat of Black Bears in Florida
Every day in Florida, we witness evidence of the state’s population growth, as it increased by 1.9% from the previous year to reach 22.24 million individuals. According to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, approximately 1,100 individuals were said to be arriving daily last year. This year, the Sunshine State claimed the top spot on the national list, surpassing other fast-growing states that have consistently made it to the Census Bureau’s Top-10 list.
In Florida, many wild and rare sights can be seen at the beach during the day, including a few lucky individuals who have the opportunity to thrive, reproduce, and continue living in the state’s panhandle and peninsula landscapes. This means that there are plenty of black bears that call Old Florida home, and in many cases, they are able to remain in their natural habitat for eons. However, the increasing growth of major metropolitan areas in Florida poses a significant threat to their existence.
It is undeniable that Florida and its black bears are awe-inspiring, but demand a significant amount of reverence—no matter where they go, no matter where they wander.