Bear necessities for Eglin residents

  • Published
  • By Scott Moorman
  • 96th Civil Engineer Group
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Eglin military family housing residents may start getting unannounced visitors trying to dig through their trash soon. As the days become hot and dry, the Florida black bear will occasionally wander into residential neighborhoods looking for a free meal.

"We would just like to remind people that black bear sightings on the base historically increase in the spring and summer months," said Dennis D. Teague, 96th Civil Engineer Group endangered species biologist, at Jackson Guard. "We ask that housing residents please use trash bin latches if they were installed on their garbage cans.

Targeting areas of historical bear sightings, Mr. Teague said the idea behind the latches was to make the base more bear resistant. Making it difficult for the state's largest mammal to find easy meals encourages them to return to the woods.

"Normally bears won't come in your yard unless it's attracted to something," he said. "Any attractions that will attract other wildlife such as raccoons, opossums, and foxes will also attract bears."

Bears have a keen sense of smell and can pick-up the scent of food from over a mile away. Mr. Teague said it is important for people living in bear country to keep outdoor grills clean, secure trash and feed pets indoors.

"If you have to feed your pet outside, clean up the area after each feeding," he said. "It's also a good idea to occasionally wash your trash can with bleach water to remove odors and be prepared to temporarily move bird feeders inside if bear sightings have been reported in your area."

Residential trash is attractive to the long black furred bear. Just one large pizza has the same caloric value as 4,566 acorns, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife conservation commission.

Mr. Teague said residents experiencing bear problems should store trash in their garage for a few days until the bear realizes it's not going to get any garbage there.

While Wildlife sighting reports are appreciated, they are not considered an emergency and may not warrant a response. If a bear poses an immediate threat in the housing area, Mr. Teague recommended contacting the 96th Security Forces Squadron law enforcement desk, otherwise contact the base housing office.

Last year, a female black bear and her two cubs spent the summer vacationing on the main base. First sighted in June, the family set up camp in the woods between Hatchee and Eley roads.

On Florida's threatened species list, the average adult Florida black bear stands nearly five-feet tall and weighs in at nearly 300 pounds and can reach speeds of 30 mph over a short distance.

"The sow felt comfortable raising her cubs on the base because it's a protected area and she was getting all of the garbage she could eat," Mr. Teague said. "With no fear of humans, she would send her cubs up a tree near the side of the road and eat acorns."
People stopped in the road to take pictures and caused a major traffic jam," he said. "The best thing to do if you see a bear is to observe it from a safe distance that doesn't create a safety hazard or attract other sightseers."

Mr. Teague believes the sow was killed in November, but her cubs were old enough to survive on their own and could return to their former stomping grounds.

"These guys spent their first summer growing up on the main base," he said. I would suspect there is a possibility they might come back because this is what they know, this is their territory."

Mr. Teague said there are situations were a single bear will get disoriented and comes around the urban interface where people live. However, if the bear doesn't get exposed to handouts and garbage there is a good chance it will regain its bearings and return to the forest unharmed.

People coming into contact with black bears should not panic. They should speak to the bear in a calm assertive voice while watching the animal, but avoiding direct eye contact, according to Alan Knothe, FWCC Northwest Region wildlife assistance biologist. He also suggested slowly backing away from the animal and take cover in a nearby car or building.

"Black bears are afraid of people," he said. "Banging pots and pans or making loud noises is always a good idea to scare it off."

Mr. Knothe said there have been instances where Florida black bears have injured people trying to feed them or doing something to provoke it. However, in most of these instances the animal was attempting to defend itself and get away.

Feeding bears is against the law in Florida and, if convicted, a person could be sentenced to up to 60 days in jail, or received a $500.00 fine.

"Don't approach the bear or don't run from the bear," he said. "You don't want to play dead either because black bear eat dead stuff."

Jackson Guard, located along Highway 85 North in Niceville, has brochures available to educate area residents about the approximately 60-100 Florida black bears that call Eglin home.

If you experience a nuisance bear on Eglin property, including family housing, contact security forces at 882-2502. If you live in the surrounding communities, you should contact the FWCC's 24-hour Wildlife Alert Hotline at 1-888-404-FWCC.