A sweet tooth was one hungry bear's downfall on the FGCU campus.
A male yearling black bear which had been getting into garbage on the Florida Gulf Coast University campus was trapped Thursday morning and will be relocated.
The around 200-pound animal was caught in a Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission trap behind the WGCU Public Media station offices on campus.
A trapper who was preparing the trap and animal for transport said a pile of "Honey buns" from 7-Eleven and dog food were the bait that lured the animal into the trap.
"The trapped bear was a yearling bear that had been accessing an unsecured Dumpster," FWC Southwest Region public information officer Bradley Johnson said.
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He said that staff in the FWC Bear Management Program captured the bear and are relocating it.
"We have been working with FGCU on securing the Dumpster and other potential attractants. The FWC’s Bear Management Program responds to human-bear conflicts based on the specific circumstances of each situation. When bears are observed in neighborhoods, they are either passing through to get from one forested area to another or locating easily accessible food sources like unsecured garbage, pet food or bird seed. Depending on the situation, the FWC may be able to relocate a bear, which would allow residents some additional time to secure attractants."
Johnson said that Florida’s black bears are more active this time of year in search of things to eat, including female bears that are teaching their cubs where to look for food. If you see a bear, give it space, don’t try to approach it, and never feed it.
The trapper also said that the animal was likely the same one that the FWC attempted but was unsuccessful in trapping last spring.
A forested section of a rural area in southern Collier County will be the bear's new home.
Florida bear facts
- FWC estimates there to be approximately 4,050 bears statewide. Bears roam forests and swamps from Eglin Air Force Base in the Panhandle to Ocala National Forest in the state’s midsection to Big Cypress National Preserve in Southwest Florida. Bears currently occupy 49 percent of their historic range in seven bear subpopulations. While many subpopulations appear to be doing well, others are clearly still recovering.
- If you encounter a bear at close range, remain standing upright, back up slowly and speak to the bear in a calm, assertive voice.
- Do NOT feed or intentionally attract bears. If a bear eats something on your property, take note of what it is and secure it once the bear leaves.
- NEVER approach or surprise a bear. If you see a bear from a distance, enjoy the experience, but do not move toward the bear. If you are close, do not make any sudden or abrupt movements. Back away slowly and be sure the bear has an obvious escape route.
Sharon VanDevander/WGCUA young, male black bear was trapped on the FGCU campus Thursday. The animal was reported for getting into garbage containers.
If you are in your yard,
- Make sure that you are in a safe area and that the bear has a clear escape route. Then, make noise or bang pots and pans to scare the bear away.
- Do NOT turn your back, play dead, climb a tree or run. Back away slowly into the house or secure area.
- Avoid direct eye contact. Bears and many other animals may view this as aggressive behavior.
- Report any bear that is threatening the safety of humans, pets or livestock, or causing property damage to the FWC.
Encountering a bear
- Staff with the FWC’s Bear Management Program ask that people contact the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC(3922) if they feel threatened by a bear; observe a sick, injured, dead or orphaned bear; or to report someone who is either harming bears or intentionally feeding them. Having conflicts with bears?
- FWC staff are here to help – people can call their FWC regional office.
Be BearWise®
The FWC recently put out a news release on dispersing bears and bears being more active this time of year with additional information that should be helpful: What does it mean to be BearWise® this spring?
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