Cartoon animals are cute and funny. They are assigned personalities and traits which endear them to the reader or viewer.
These creations have been a staple of newspapers for more than a century and Walt Disney brought them to life in the movies about 90 years ago.
Television, and now the internet, perpetuates the perception of these domestic and wild creatures. With the advent of computer-generated graphics, these animated constructions are capable of acting right alongside well-known human actors.
Bears are a common subject for the imaginative minds of animators. They have all the features capable of making them lovable, sympathetic clods.
Bears are attracted to deer feeders filled with corn and will patiently and persistently attempt to bring the grain to the forest floor. The metal and plastic feeder will frequently be damaged beyond repair.
What is not to love with a big furry animal with a pleasant and occasionally mischievous personality? Whether it is a desire for picnic baskets or honey pots, the bears of fiction exude an irresistible aura.
Reality is quite different. The black bears which inhabit north Florida and the surrounding region are Ursus americanus floridanus, a subspecies of the native American Black Bear.
They are among the largest native mammals in the United States. Despite the name, their fur color may range from jet black to a honey brown and coats can include a white chest patch.
These bears are at home in the forested lands of panhandle Florida. Whether oak hammocks or cypress swamps, bears have settled in for a stay.
As an apex or top of the food chain predator, local black bears will eat meat. They will take larger species, but are much more likely to take smaller, easy to catch animals.
Their protein needs are sometimes satisfied by consuming insect larvae. The bear’s claws, thick fur and strength make nests an easy and satisfying target.
A bear’s ability to locate food will take it to the source of nutrition, even in the dim hours of the night. Its strength and intelligence will usually secure a meal.
North Florida’s beekeepers have a long running battle with bears in their attempts to keep these social insects producing honey and pollinating crops. Winnie the Pooh notwithstanding, bears favor the honeybee larvae to the honey itself.
In addition to meat and insect larvae, the local black bear population consumes plant and vegetative materials. Acorns, nuts and grains are especially popular and are usually found in concentrations large enough to interest the bears.
Deer hunters who use corn in feeders are likely to attract hungry bears looking for an easy meal. Many feeders have been tipped over and ripped apart as the bears gorge themselves on the corn.
The bear’s excellent sense of smell is attributed to the structure of its nose. Much like dogs and hogs, the number and placing of sensory receptors provides the animals with the ability to identify food from miles away.
While the local black bears tend to be shy and avoid contact with humans, the hunt for nourishment can create unintended meetings. Food waste left in the open can attract bears to an area.
Once the bears are in an area, they will search for additional food sources. This has the potential of placing anything which smells interesting at risk, including pets and people.
It is prudent to handle and dispose of food waste properly, as there is the possibility of a bear contact even in suburban areas. An adult bear will weigh as much as or more than a human, and just like people, must eat regularly too.
While it may be more of a challenge to forage in the wild, it is far better for the bears (and people too). To paraphrase Smoky the Bear, “Remember, only you can prevent (most) bear contacts.”
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