Saving Florida
Dedicated to Saving Florida through photography, art, and journalism.

Florida Black Bear

• Order: Carnivora
• Class: Mammalia
• Family: Ursidae
• Subfamily: Ursinae
• Genus: Ursus
• Species: americanus
• Subspecies: floridus

The Florida black Bear is a subspecies of the Black Bear family. Black Bears are closely related to polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and Alaskan brown bears (Ursus arctos)..

The geographical range of the Florida black bear is restricted to “6 core areas (Eglin, Apalachicola, Osceola, Ocala, St. Johns, and Big Cypress) and 2 remnant populations (Chassahowitzka and Glades/Highlands).” (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. http://myfwc.com/bear/distribmap.htm) According to research and the suggestions given in the habitat management guidelines (http://myfwc.com/bear/Reports/BB_Hab_Mgmt_Guide.pdf) the Florida black bear is heavily reliant on areas with dense saw palmetto. Reproduction occurs from June to July with cubs born in January or February. They use a den built into dense ground cover to go into winter lethargy; time pregnant females use to gestate. Their behaviors are similar to other bears, they travel long distances and may forage random areas. They learn quickly humans mean food. Bears are omnivores, but for the Florida black bear most scavenging is done in plant materials.

The Black Bear as a species is common to North America. They are doing well in some areas and subspecies but others are suffering. Specifically fro the Florida subspecies, they are suffering a loss of numbers due to a loss of habitat, increased roadways, and genetic depression due to distances between populations. The Florida Black bear used to be common across the state of Florida, including outlying islands. That has been reduced greatly to only 6 viable populations in the state.

I chose this article: (I searched the online journals, but chose to use this instead)

McCown, W. J. and Eason, T. H. Black Bear Movements and Habitat Use Relative to Roads in Ocala National Forest: Preliminary Findings. ICOET 2001 Proceedings pgs 397-404. http://www.floridaconservation.org/bear/Publications/ICOET_2001_Wildlife.pdf

The objectives of this research were to determine how, when and why bears near the Ocala National Forest were using the roadways. The mortality rates for the bears in this area were higher then in other areas of the state and due mainly to vehicle collision. What the research found was that their findings were completely different from similar research done elsewhere, although there was no apparent reason. In the conclusion they determined that bears are crossing these roadways more frequently and utilizing different habitat areas than other bears in the state. The research has determined that although the bears are more likely to be roadkill here, there has been no adverse change in population so no immediate changes are necessary.

And just a really neat thing I found I have added here.

For someone interested in Black bears I suggest checking this website out

http://www.bearstudy.org/

By Jamie Drake

Jamie Drake is a full time student, amateur photographer, and serious advocate of conservation of Florida and North American natural resources. Her special interests include the Northern Caracara, Limpkin, and in finding ways for nature to thrive even through the rapid urbanization of Florida.
Visit her websites to learn more: http://www.fieldguideflorida.com