Bears in the News
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News Releases
2021
April 13, 2021: Remove food attractants to reduce conflicts with bears
September 14, 2021: Be BearWise: Follow FWC's bear necessities this fall
November 29, 2021: BearWise Communities Making A Difference Across the Southeast
November 29, 2021: FWC recognizes two communities as BearWise in central Florida
November 29, 2021: FWC recognizes two communities as BearWise in northwest Florida
November 29, 2021: FWC recognizes two communities as BearWise in southwest Florida
November 30, 2021: Individual charged in bear case in Highlands County
2020
September 28, 2020: Be BearWise this fall, secure garbage and other foods
2019
December 11, 2019: Bear Management Facts
October 21, 2019: Reminder: First of two Bear Management Plan webinars this week.
October 8, 2019: FWC seeking input on update to Florida Black Bear Management Plan
September 9, 2019: Bears are more active in the fall
March 18, 2019: FWC removes dangerous bear from the Juniper Prairie Wilderness Area campsite
2018
December 19, 2018: FWC arrests 9 for conspiracy, animal cruelty, bear baiting violations after long-term investigation
October 1, 2018: FWC: Bears more active this time of year
September 12, 2018: FWC awards 10 communities BearWise funding to reduce conflicts
August 9, 2018: FWC receives applications for 'BearWise' funding
June 4, 2018: FWC offers additional BearWise funding to reduce conflicts
May 11, 2018: FWC captures bear posing public safety threat
May 2, 2018: Springtime spurs activity for Florida black bears
April 30, 2018: FWC working to trap bear in Longwood area
2017
November 17, 2017: FWC awards BearWise funding to 10 communities to reduce human-bear conflicts
October 25, 2017: 10 Communities apply for BearWise funding
September 27, 2017: FWC: Bears become more active in fall
August 31, 2017: FWC releases new videos to help Florida residents avoid conflicts with bears
July 31, 2017: FWC, Franklin County and Carrabelle provide hardware to make trash cans bear resistant
July 20, 2017: New FWC BearWise funding will focus on communities with ordinances
June 1, 2017: FWC and Seminole County providing discounted bear-resistant trash cans
May 18, 2017: Springtime spurs activity for Florida black bears, cubs
April 19, 2017: Statement regarding bear management
January 31, 2017: FWC responds to bear incident in Santa Rosa County
2016
December 13, 2016: FWC Awards $825,000 to Local Governments to Reduce Human- Bear Conflicts
December 1, 2016: FWC releases videos to educate Floridians on how best to avoid conflicts with bears
November 1, 2016: FWC Applauds Orange County for Working to Reduce Conflicts with Bears
October 18, 2016: FWC receives 19 proposals from local governments for bear-conflict reduction funding
September 29, 2016: FWC continues cutting-edge science to collect data on Florida’s widespread bear population
September 20, 2016: As autumn approaches, bears across Florida become more active
September 15, 2016: Final Population Modeling Confirms that Florida has a Robust and Growing Bear Population
August 17, 2016: Waste Pro and FWC team up to reduce human-bear conflicts
July 12, 2016: FWC invites communities to submit proposals for $825,000 in bear-conflict reduction funding
June 23, 2016: FWC thanks Lake County Commission for passing ordinance to help reduce bear conflicts
June 22, 2016: FWC votes to postpone bear hunting in 2016
June 10, 2016: FWC to Consider Staff Recommendation for Florida Bear Hunt, Four Options on How to Move Forward
June 3, 2016: FWC concludes bear management webinars
May 20, 2016: FWC to host public webinars to discuss bear management
Member of the media? Please visit our Bear Management Media Resources webpage.