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FWC awards BearWise funding to 10 communities to reduce human-bear conflicts

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Unsecured trash is the No. 1 reason that Florida black bears enter neighborhoods and come into conflict with people, so the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is awarding 10 communities with a total of $515,283 to address this critical issue.
BearWise funding will help communities purchase and provide bear-resistant trash cans, dumpsters and other equipment to their residents at a discounted cost. Funds are being distributed to each of the 10 communities that applied:

  • Seminole County – $189,000 to purchase bear-resistant trash cans for residents in the western portion of Seminole County, which has an ordinance requiring trash be kept secure from bears.
  • Lake County – $85,508 to purchase bear-resistant trash cans for residents in Lake County, which has an ordinance requiring trash be kept secure from bears.
  • Volusia County – $75,000 to purchase bear-resistant trash cans for residents in the western portion of Volusia County.
  • Holley by the Sea Improvement Association – $65,000 to purchase hardware to modify all 3,700 trash cans to make them bear-resistant in the Holley by the Sea Improvement Association, located in the southern portion of Santa Rosa County, which has an ordinance requiring trash be kept secure from bears.
  • Highlands County – $48,000 to purchase bear-resistant trash cans for residents in the central portion of the Highlands County.
  • Orange County – $20,000 to purchase bear-resistant trash cans for residents in the northwestern portion of Orange County, which has an ordinance requiring trash be kept secure from bears.
  • Walton County – $18,000 to purchase bear-resistant trash cans for Walton County parks and to modify dumpsters to make them bear-resistant.
  • Air Force Enlisted Village – $7,700 to modify dumpsters to make them bear-resistant in this community in Okaloosa County.
  • Collier County Parks and Recreation – $3,675 to purchase bear-resistant trash cans for three Collier County parks.
  • Franklin County – $3,400 to purchase hardware to modify regular trash cans to make them bear-resistant for residents in the southern portion of Franklin County.

This year the Legislature and Gov. Rick Scott provided $415,283 to the FWC to cost-share with local governments in areas with high levels of human-bear conflicts. At least 60 percent of the funding must go to communities with ordinances requiring trash be kept secure from bears until the morning of pickup. The FWC also received funding from the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida, which provided an additional $100,000 in proceeds from the Conserve Wildlife license plate.
FWC staff evaluated BearWise funding applications based on several factors, including:

  • Does the community have an ordinance requiring residents and businesses to keep trash and other attractants secure from bears?
  • How many households within the community are in an area with significant human-bear conflicts and how many residences and businesses are expected to benefit?
  • How much in matching funds or in-kind services can the community provide?
  • What is the likelihood the project will result in a community-wide reduction of human-bear conflicts?

For more information on Florida black bears, including how to reduce conflicts with them, visit MyFWC.com/Bear and click on “Live BearWise,” watch the BearWise Communities video and read the A guide to living in bear country brochure.

10 communities apply for BearWise funding

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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has received applications from 10 communities for $515,283 in BearWise funding to help reduce human-bear conflicts.
Eight counties applied for BearWise funds: Collier County Parks and Recreation, Franklin County, Highlands County, Lake County, Orange County, Seminole County, Volusia County and Walton County. Two homeowner’s associations also submitted applications: Air Force Enlisted Village in Okaloosa County and Holley by the Sea Improvement Association in Santa Rosa County. Their requests total $998,425.
The FWC will evaluate the applications, prioritizing the communities with BearWise ordinances requiring residents and businesses to keep garbage secure from bears. BearWise ordinances can be passed by a county, city or homeowner’s association. The funding helps offset the costs for residents and businesses to acquire bear-resistant trash cans and dumpsters. The FWC plans to announce the funding awards in mid-November.
“Feeding on garbage is the main reason why Florida black bears appear in neighborhoods,” said David Telesco, who leads the FWC’s Bear Management Program. “This funding will make it easier for people to secure their trash, keeping both people and bears safe.”
Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature approved $415,283 of the funds, with the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida providing an additional $100,000 from sales of the Conserve Wildlife license plate. Sixty percent of the $415,283 must go to communities that passed BearWise ordinances requiring residents and businesses to keep their trash secure until the morning of garbage pickup. Lake, Orange and Seminole counties and Holley by the Sea Improvement Association in Santa Rosa County all applied for funding and have BearWise ordinances in effect.
 
Last year, the FWC distributed over $800,000 in BearWise funding to 11 counties, three cities and one homeowner’s association to purchase 5,100 bear-resistant trash cans and 3,800 sets of hardware to secure regular trash cans. Over 75 percent of last year’s funding was provided to communities with BearWise ordinances.
The FWC will evaluate the applications based on the following criteria:

  • Is there a local ordinance in place requiring residents and businesses to keep trash and other attractants secure from bears?
  • How many households in the area are experiencing significant human-bear conflicts?
  • Will the community match the funding, either with money, in-kind services or both?
  • What is the likelihood the project will result in a community-wide reduction of human-bear conflicts?
  • How many residences and businesses may benefit from the project?

In addition to providing BearWise funding, the FWC will continue to meet with counties, cities and homeowner’s associations to encourage efforts to enact BearWise trash ordinances. The FWC anticipates implementation of such ordinances coupled with this year’s BearWise funding will result in a reduction in human-bear conflicts across the state.
For more information on Florida black bears, including how to reduce conflicts with them, visit MyFWC.com/Bear and click on Live BearWise, watch the BearWise Communities video and read the A guide to living in bear country brochure.

New FWC BearWise funding will focus on communities with ordinances

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In an effort to help reduce human-bear conflicts, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is inviting local governments to apply for BearWise funding for their communities.
The FWC will focus on providing funding to local governments with BearWise ordinances requiring residents and businesses to keep garbage secure from bears. The funding will offset the costs for residents and businesses to use bear-resistant equipment to secure their garbage from bears.
Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature appropriated $415,000 for this project and the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida added $100,000 from proceeds of the Conserve Wildlife license plate, for a total of $515,000 in available BearWise funding this year.
“Thanks to Gov. Scott, the Florida Legislature and the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida, these new funds will allow us to continue to expand our work with local community partners to ensure they have the tools and resources they need to help avoid conflicts with bears,” said Nick Wiley, FWC Executive Director.
The FWC invites counties, cities and other local governments to submit applications to be considered for funding. While preference will be given to applications from areas with BearWise ordinances and to large projects benefiting the most people, consideration will also be given to other proposals as funding allows.
Local governments are strongly encouraged to consult with FWC staff to discuss options and implementation before submitting their applications. The FWC will assist any local government considering passing an ordinance, including providing example ordinances.
Last year, the FWC distributed $825,000 in BearWise funding to 11 counties, three cities, and two homeowners associations to purchase 4,000 bear-resistant trash cans, 2,500 sets of hardware to secure regular trash cans, and 40 dumpsters modified to keep bears out. Over 70 percent of funding was provided to local governments with BearWise ordinances.
To be considered, the FWC must receive applications before close of business on Oct. 16. Applications should be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Attention: Bear Management Program, 620 South Meridian St., 6B, Tallahassee, FL 32399.
For additional details on the funding and application process, visit MyFWC.com/Bear and click on “Live BearWise.”
Help the FWC help bears and other wildlife by purchasing the Conserve Wildlife license plate at BuyaPlate.com.