"Bear" base
A mother black bear checks on one of her two cubs near Eglin Air Force Base housing recently. The family has been spotted at various locations around base housing for several weeks. Wildlife specialists from Jackson Guard advise base residents to never feed bears and to secure all trash cans so bears can't steal scraps. Keeping trash cans close to the house when it's not trash pickup day can help keep bears from seeing and going into them. If you do encounter a black bear, try to adhere to the following: Do not feed the bear; Never approach the bear; Make sure the bear has an escape route; Do not run from the bear or make direct eye contact with it; Back up slowly and remain standing upright; Act passively; Do not appear threatening. (U.S. Air Force photo/Cheryl Carden.)