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Bears by the Numbers

Florida Black Bear Populations

West Panhandle = 120 bears (50% increase)
East Panhandle = 1,060 bears (86% increase)
North = 500 bears (92% increase)
Central = 1,200 bears (17% increase)
Big Bend = 30 bears
South Central = 100 bears
South = 1,040 bears (49% increase)
Statewide Total = 4,050 (53% increase)

*Percent increases based on comparing 2002 and 2014/2015 Florida black bear populations. Comparisons not available for Big Bend and South Central bear management unit populations, which were surveyed in 2010 and 2011, respectively.

The infographic shows the 2014/2015 bear population estimates for each of the seven bear subpopulations with the percent change from the 2002 population estimate. The Big Bend and South Central subpopulations were completed in 2010 and 2011, therefore comparisons are not available.

West Panhandle = 120 bears (50% increase)

East Panhandle = 1,060 bears (86% increase)

North = 500 bears (92% increase)

Central = 1,200 bears (17% increase)

Big Bend = 30 bears

South Central = 100 bears

South = 1,040 bears (49% increase)

Statewide Total = 4,050 (53% increase)

Dated: 03/17/2017

Statewide Bear Data

Figure 1: This bar graph shows the number of statewide bear-related calls, and the percentage of core and non-core complaints received by FWC from the public from 2000 to 2020, totaling 80,978 calls.

2000 = 1,143 calls (58% Core, 42% Non-Core),
2001 = 840 calls (49% Core, 42% Non-Core),
2002 = 1,364 calls (52% Core, 51% Non-Core),
2003 = 1,104 calls (47% Core, 53% Non-Core),
2004 = 1,594 calls (52% Core, 48% Non-Core),
2005 = 1,919 calls (51% Core, 49% Non-Core),
2006 = 2,154 calls (45% Core, 55% Non-Core),
2007 = 2,795 calls (52% Core, 48% Non-Core),
2008 = 2,745 calls (54% Core, 46% Non-Core),
2009 = 3,340 calls (58% Core, 42% Non-Core),
2010 = 4,196 calls (59% Core, 41% Non-Core),
2011 = 4,092 calls (54% Core, 46% Non-Core),
2012 = 6,212 calls (51% Core, 49% Non-Core),
2013 = 6,734 calls (54% Core, 46% Non-Core),
2014 = 6,688 calls (47% Core, 53% Non-Core),
2015 = 6,046 calls (49% Core, 51% Non-Core),
2016 = 5,126 calls (44% Core, 56% Non-Core),
2017 = 6,188 calls (47% Core, 53% Non-Core),
2018 = 5,481 calls (39% Core, 61% Non-Core),
2019 = 5,390 calls (38% Core, 62% Non-Core),
2020 = 5,821 calls (40% Core, 60% Non-Core)

Core complaints are conflicts, whereas non-core complaints are interactions that could be positive or negative.

Figure 2: This pie chart shows the reason for statewide bear related calls received by FWC from the public from 2000 to 2020, totaling 80,978 calls.

General Interaction (light blue slice) = 39%;
In Garbage (brown slice) = 30%;
Property Damage (orange slice) = 13%;
Sick/Dead Bear (dark green slice) = 10%;
Bear-Animal Encounter (yellow slice) = 4%;
In Structure (dark grey slice) = 1%;
Public Safety Incident (light green slice) = 1%;
Miscellaneous (light grey slice) = 1%;
Illegal Activity (dark blue slice) = 1% 

Figure 3: This bar graph shows the number of bears killed statewide by either road, management, illegal, harvest, or other causes of death from 2010 to 2020, totaling 3,669 bears.

2010 = 210 bears (168 road, 14 management, 17 illegal, 11 other),
2011 = 233 bears (194 road, 17 management, 17 illegal, 11 other),
2012 = 329 bears (283 road, 21 management, 14 illegal, 11 other),
2013 = 285 bears (234 road, 27 management, 14 illegal, 10 other),
2014 = 330 bears (245 road, 53 management, 20 illegal, 12 other),
2015 = 680 bears (248 road, 105 management, 7 illegal, 16 other, 304 harvest),
2016 = 307 bears (231 road, 35 management, 19 illegal, 21 other),
2017 = 351 bears (249 road, 59 management, 21 illegal, 22 other),
2018 = 306 bears (242 road, 27 management, 13 illegal, 24 other),
2019 = 305 bears (237 road, 20 management, 20 illegal, 28 other)
2020 = 332 bears (270 road, 20 management, 15 illegal, 27 other)

 

North Central Regional Data

Figure 1: This bar graph shows the number of North Central Region bear-related calls and the percentage of core and non-core complaints received by the FWC from the public from 2010 to 2020, totaling 1,744 calls.

2010 = 105 calls (20% Core, 80% Non-Core Complaints),
2011 = 114 calls (33% Core, 67% Non-Core Complaints),
2012 = 133 calls (43% Core, 57% Non-Core Complaints),
2013 = 163 calls (37% Core, 63% Non-Core Complaints),
2014 = 169 calls (30% Core, 70% Non-Core Complaints),
2015 = 123 calls (23% Core, 77% Non-Core Complaints),
2016 = 106 calls (21% Core, 79% Non-Core Complaints),
2017 = 229 calls (35% Core, 65% Non-Core Complaints),
2018 = 208 calls (41% Core, 59% Non-Core Complaints),
2019 = 170 calls (31% Core, 69% Non-Core Complaints)
2020 = 227 calls (36% Core, 64% Non-Core Complaints)

Core complaints are conflicts, whereas non-core complaints are interactions that could be positive or negative.

Figure 2: The pie chart above shows the reason for North Central Region bear related calls received by the FWC from the public from 2010 to 2020, totaling 1,744 calls.

General Interaction (light blue slice) = 40%;
Sick/Dead Bear (dark green slice) = 20%;
In Garbage (brown slice) = 15%;
Property Damage (orange slice) = 14%;
Miscellaneous (light grey slice) = 6%;
Bear-Animal Encounter (yellow slice) = 3%;
Illegal Activity (dark blue slice) = 1%;
In Structure (dark grey slice) = <1%;
Public Safety Incident (light green slice) = <1%

Figure 3: The bar graph shows the number of bears killed by either road, management, illegal, harvest, or other causes of death in the North Central Region from 2010 to 2020, totaling 266 bears.

2010 = 16 bears (15 road, 1 illegal),
2011 = 16 bears (13 road, 2 management, 1 illegal),
2012 = 19 bears (17 road, 1 illegal, 1 other),
2013 = 19 bears (19 road),
2014 = 29 bears (27 road, 1 illegal, 1 other),
2015 = 62 bears (23 road, 3 management, 2 other, 34 harvest),
2016 = 16 bears (15 road, 1 other),
2017 = 24 bears (18 road, 2 management, 2 illegal, 2 other),
2018 = 20 bears (19 road, 1 other),
2019 = 19 bears (17 road, 1 illegal, 1 other),
2020 = 26 bears (24 road, 0 management, 0 illegal, 2 other)

Northeast Regional Data

Figure 1: The bar graph above shows the number of Northeast Region bear-related calls, and the percentage of core and non-core complaints received by the FWC from the public from 2010 to 2020, totaling 30,764 calls.

2010 = 2,220 calls (57% Core, 43% Non-Core Complaints),
2011 = 2,474 calls (58% Core, 42% Non-Core Complaints),
2012 = 3,697 calls (52% Core, 48% Non-Core Complaints),
2013 = 3,649 calls (56% Core, 44% Non-Core Complaints),
2014 = 4,109 calls (47% Core, 53% Non-Core Complaints),
2015 = 3,099 calls (50% Core, 50% Non-Core Complaints),
2016 = 2,146 calls (45% Core, 55% Non-Core Complaints),
2017 = 2,576 calls (49% Core, 51% Non-Core Complaints),
2018 = 2,188 calls (43% Core, 57% Non-Core Complaints),
2019 = 2,400 calls (39% Core, 61% Non-Core Complaints)
2020 = 2,208 calls (39% Core, 61% Non-Core Complaints)

Core complaints are conflicts, whereas non-core complaints are interactions that could be positive or negative.

Figure 2: The pie chart above shows the reason for Northeast Region bear related calls received by the FWC from the public from 2010 to 2020, totaling 30,764 calls.

General Interaction = 36%;
In Garbage = 28%;
Property Damage = 15%;
Sick/Dead Bear = 12%;
Bear-Animal Encounter = 4%;
In Structure = 2%;
Illegal Activity = 1%;
Public Safety Incident = 1%;
Miscellaneous = 1%

Figure 3: The bar graph shows the number of bears killed by either road, management, illegal, harvest, or other causes of death in the Northeast Region from 2010 to 2020, totaling 1,799 bears.

2010 = 91 bears (76 road, 7 management, 3 illegal, 5 other),
2011 = 119 bears (98 road, 9 management, 3 illegal, 9 other),
2012 = 190 bears (164 road, 10 management, 6 illegal, 10 other),
2013 = 155 bears (125 road, 14 management, 9 illegal, 7 other),
2014 = 148 bears (110 road, 26 management, 8 illegal, 4 other),
2015 = 288 bears (103 road, 40 management, 5 illegal, 4 other, 136 harvest),
2016 = 138 bears (114 road, 12 management, 5 illegal, 7 other),
2017 = 166 bears (128 road, 19 management, 7 illegal, 12 other),
2018 = 147 bears (112 road, 14 management, 8 illegal, 13 other),
2019 = 172 bears (134 road, 11 management, 13 illegal, 14 other),
2020 = 184 bears (148 road, 7 management, 8 illegal, 21 other)

 

Northwest Regional Data

Figure 1: This bar graph shows the number of Northwest Region bear-related calls, and the percentage of core and non-core complaints received by the FWC from the public from 2010 to 2020, totaling 21,057 calls.

2010 = 1,808 calls (61% Core, 39% Non-Core Complaints),
2011 = 1,038 calls (50% Core, 50% Non-Core Complaints),
2012 = 1,735 calls (49% Core, 51% Non-Core Complaints),
2013 = 2,055 calls (49% Core, 51% Non-Core Complaints),
2014 = 1,674 calls (46% Core, 54% Non-Core Complaints),
2015 = 2,001 calls (50% Core, 50% Non-Core Complaints),
2016 = 2,226 calls (46% Core, 54% Non-Core Complaints),
2017 = 2,477 calls (47% Core, 53% Non-Core Complaints),
2018 = 1,880 calls (38% Core, 62% Non-Core Complaints),
2019 = 1,817 calls (40% Core, 60% Non-Core Complaints)
2020 = 2,345 calls (45% Core, 55% Non-Core Complaints)

 

Core complaints are conflicts, whereas non-core complaints are interactions that could be positive or negative.

 

Figure 2: This pie chart shows the reason for Northwest Region bear-related calls received by the FWC from the public from 2010 to 2020, totaling 21,057 calls.

General Interaction = 41%;
In Garbage = 34%;
Sick/Dead Bear = 9%;
Property Damage = 9%;
Bear-Animal Encounter = 3%;
Miscellaneous = 2%;
Public Safety Incident = 1%;
Illegal Activity = <1%;
In Structure = <1%

Figure 3: The bar graph shows the number of bears killed by either road, management, illegal, harvest, or other causes of death in the Northwest Region from 2010 to 2020, totaling 1,262 bears.

2010 = 92 bears (68 road, 7 management, 12 illegal, 5 other),
2011 = 75 bears (64 road, 5 management, 6 illegal),
2012 = 104 bears (87 road, 11 management, 6 illegal), 2013 = 80 bears (66 road, 8 management, 5 illegal, 1 other),
2014 = 115 bears (82 road, 21 management, 8 illegal, 4 other),
2015 = 261 bears (92 road, 49 management, 1 illegal, 8 other, 111 harvest),
2016 = 118 bears (80 road, 18 management, 11 illegal, 9 other),
2017 = 125 bears (77 road, 35 management, 7 illegal, 6 other),
2018 = 113 bears (88 road, 13 management, 4 illegal, 8 other),
2019 = 76 bears (59 road, 7 management, 6 illegal, 4 other), 
2020 = 102 bears (84 road, 12 management, 4 illegal, 2 other)

Southwest Regional Data

Figure 1: The bar graph above shows the number of Southwest Region bear-related calls, and the percentage of core and non-core complaints received by the FWC from the public from 2010 to 2020, totaling 3,195 calls.

2010 = 56 calls (25% Core, 75% Non-Core Complaints),
2011 = 93 calls (13% Core, 87% Non-Core Complaints),
2012 = 216 calls (47% Core, 53% Non-Core Complaints),
2013 = 258 calls (47% Core, 53% Non-Core Complaints),
2014 = 423 calls (45% Core, 55% Non-Core Complaints),
2015 = 327 calls (45% Core, 55% Non-Core Complaints),
2016 = 301 calls (39% Core, 61% Non-Core Complaints),
2017 = 384 calls (48% Core, 52% Non-Core Complaints),
2018 = 284 calls (29% Core, 71% Non-Core Complaints),
2019 = 353 calls (41% Core, 59% Non-Core Complaints), 
2020 = 500 calls (31% Core, 69% Non-Core Complaints)

Core complaints are conflicts, whereas non-core complaints are interactions that could be positive or negative.

 

Figure 2: The pie chart above shows the reason for Southwest Region bear related calls received by the FWC from the public from 2010 to 2020, totaling 3,195 calls.

General Interaction = 48%;
In Garbage = 27%;
Property Damage = 8%;
Sick/Dead Bear = 6%;
Miscellaneous = 6%;
Bear-Animal Encounter = 2%;
In Structure = 1%;
Public Safety Incident = <1%;
Illegal Activity = <1%

Figure 3: The bar graph shows the number of bears killed by either road, management, illegal, harvest, or other causes of death in the Southwest Region from 2010 to 2020, totaling 95 bears.

2010 = 5 bears (5 road),
2011 = 7 bears (7 road),
2012 = 4 bears (4 road),
2013 = 12 bears (8 road, 4 management),
2014 = 15 bears (7 road, 5 management, 1 illegal, 2 other),
2015 = 18 bears (9 road, 8 management, 1 illegal),
2016 = 8 bears (4 road, 1 management, 2 illegal, 1 other),
2017 = 7 bears (6 road, 1 management),
2018 = 7 bears (7 road),
2019 = 8 bears (8 road),
2020 = 4 bears (4 road)

 

South Regional Data

Figure 1: The bar graph above shows the number of South Region bear-related calls, and the percentage of core and non-core complaints received by the FWC from the public from 2010 to 2020, totaling 5,777 calls.

2010 = 97 calls (57% Core, 43% Non-Core Complaints),
2011 = 447 calls (49% Core, 51% Non-Core Complaints),
2012 = 539 calls (49% Core, 51% Non-Core Complaints),
2013 = 687 calls (54% Core, 46% Non-Core Complaints),
2014 = 540 calls (47% Core, 53% Non-Core Complaints),
2015 = 497 calls (48% Core, 52% Non-Core Complaints),
2016 = 345 calls (44% Core, 56% Non-Core Complaints),
2017 = 521 calls (46% Core, 54% Non-Core Complaints),
2018 = 919 calls (34% Core, 66% Non-Core Complaints),
2019 = 648 calls (34% Core, 66% Non-Core Complaints),
2020 = 538 calls (35% Core, 65% Non-Core Complaints)

Core complaints are conflicts, whereas non-core complaints are interactions that could be positive or negative.

Figure 2: The pie chart above shows the reason for South Region bear related calls received by the FWC from the public from 2010 to 2020, totaling 5,777 calls.

General Interaction = 45%;
In Garbage = 30%;
Sick/Dead Bear = 9%;
Property Damage = 7%;
Bear-Animal Encounter = 3%;
Public Safety Incident = 2%;
In Structure = 1%;
Miscellaneous = 2%;
Illegal Activity = <1%

Figure 3: The bar graph shows the number of bears killed by either road, management, illegal, harvest, or other causes of death in the South Region from 2010 to 2020, totaling 246 bears.

2010 = 6 bears (4 road, 1 illegal, 1 other),
2011 = 16 bears (12 road, 1 management, 1 illegal, 2 other),
2012 = 12 bears (11 road, 1 illegal),
2013 = 19 bears (16 road, 2 management, 1 other),
2014 = 23 bears (19 road, 1 management, 2 illegal, 1 other),
2015 = 50 bears (21 road, 5 management, 2 other, 22 harvest),
2016 = 26 bears (18 road, 5 management, 3 other),
2017 = 29 bears (20 road, 2 management, 5 illegal, 2 other),
2018 = 19 bears (16 road, 1 illegal, 2 other),
2019 = 30 bears (19 road, 2 management, 9 other),
2020 = 16 bears (10 road, 1 management, 3 illegal, 2 other)

 

To learn more about Bears by the Numbers in your area visit the Bear Management Unit (BMU) webpages.

Geographic Data

Interactive Public Bear Map

This map includes detailed bear-related data dating back to 1980 and as recent as 2 months prior to current date. This map includes the current year’s data but has not been thoroughly assessed for accuracy and is subject to change.

Terrestrial Resources GIS Online Map

This map includes bear, wildlife, and other habitat data and does not contain the current year’s bear-related data. The data in this map has been thoroughly assessed for accuracy.