The Florida Black Bear

Bear cubs are born blind and covered with fine hair. At birth, they are the size of a stick of butter or a soda can, weighing 8–15 ounces. Litter sizes are anywhere from one to five cubs, with the average being two to three. 

Bears have large bodies with a shiny black coat (although some may appear redder in color during certain times of the year) with a brownish muzzle. Some bears may have white patches or markings, called blazes, on their chests. Their ears are short and rounded on adults, but look more like “Mickey Mouse ears” on younger bears. The black bear has five toes with short, curved non-retractable claws that give them excellent tree-climbing ability. A bear’s superpower is their nose. They have an excellent sense of smell, being able to detect an odor from at least a mile away. Their eyesight is similar to those of humans, and they can see in color. Male black bears on average weigh between 250–450 lbs., and females typically weigh between 125–250 lbs. 

This resilient bear species has shown incredible progress in conservation efforts. In the 1970s, the population of Florida black bears was reduced to only 300-500 throughout the state due to unregulated hunting and habitat loss. In 1974, they were designated as Threatened by the state of Florida and were placed on the state’s Endangered and Threatened Species List. In 2012, the Florida black bear was officially classified as a “Recovered” species after decades of concerted efforts aimed at habitat restoration, reducing human-wildlife conflicts, and raising public awareness. As a result, the population of Florida black bears has grown to an estimated 4,000 individuals in the wild. Despite this success, the species remains protected under state law, and ongoing monitoring is essential to ensure its long-term survival. 

FWF involvement: 

• In 2015, a bear hunt in Florida sparked widespread public outcry and raised concerns about the effectiveness of management practices. FWF helped gather expert inputand submitted key findings and recommendations to FWC, should a future hunt be considered. The priority concern was the lack of current population data to indicate the maximum sustainable harvest rate. 

• In 2024, the passing of Florida House Bill 87, also known as the “Taking of Bears” bill, allowed for lethal removal of bears if they are perceived as a threat to pets, property, or human safety, regardless of the underlying causes of these conflicts. FWF strongly opposed this bill, warning that it undermines science-based wildlife management and opens the door to indiscriminate killings of bears without addressing the root causes of these conflicts. 

FWF remains committed to advocating for science-based solutions that protect both people and wildlife. 

The primary threats to the Florida black bear today are habitat loss and fragmentation, which have significantly reduced the amount of available land for them to roam. As human development continues to encroach on bear habitats, it forces bears into smaller, isolated areas, increasing the likelihood of conflicts with humans. This loss of land is a major factor driving bears into human-dominated areas where they are more likely to encounter dangers such as vehicle strikes when crossing roadways. 

While Florida black bears tend to avoid humans, their extreme food drive is attracted by things that we leave around our homes. Because of their amazing sense of smell, bears can get into trouble by accessing outdoor garbage cans, bird feeders, pet food, and other easy calories in human-dominated areas. They can become dependent on a food source and begin to become too comfortable around people, so it is crucial to secure trash cans, remove attractants, harvest ripe produce, and compost responsibly, while always maintaining a safe distance from bears. 

Black bears are solitary animals; however, they can be found together when in a mother-cub family unit or as pairs during mating season. They will tolerate each other and forage in groups if there is an abundance of food in one area. Black bears can run up to 35 miles per hour and can climb 100 feet up a tree in 30 seconds. They are also excellent swimmers. Bears are naturally wary and people and are typically active at dawn and dusk. 

Florida black bears need large areas of land to travel and survive. An adult female has an average home range of up to 15 square miles while an adult male averages 60 square miles. Females have a smaller range because they are more cautious when moving with cubs. Bears communicate through vocalizations and body language. 

If you encounter a bear, it may stand up on its hind legs. This is not an aggressive behavior; instead, the bear is trying to assess whether you are a threat by using their nose to air scent and eyesight to get a better view. Bears let us know through vocalizations and body language when they are uncomfortable. They may huff out air and clack their teeth, do jaw popping, or even bluff charge. These are all ways a bear lets us know that we are too close. Behaviorally, if a bear’s behavior changes because you are there, that is a sign that you are too close and you should slowly back away while speaking calmly. 

To learn about black bear vocalizations and body language, here is a link to the North American Bear Center’s webpage on various bear vocalizations and body language.

Florida black bears can be found primarily in forested and rural areas across the state, with their range covering most of peninsular Florida and parts of the panhandle. They are typically found in habitats such as swamps, wetlands, hardwood forests, and mixed woodlands, particularly in areas with dense vegetation and abundant food sources.

Black bears prefer habitats with dense understories such as forested wetlands and uplands but will use a variety of habitats depending on the season. Habitats need to provide food, water, shelter and corridors to travel. Their ideal habitat would have plenty of trees and plants to provide a seasonal variety of nuts and fruits.

Females that are pregnant may den in areas dense with palmettos. They may also choose to den in day beds (which are similar to nests) in thick areas, under downed trees, or even in tree cavities. In these areas, she is able to better protect her cubs by removing them should she hear twigs or brush break nearby. 

Human population growth has significantly contributed to habitat fragmentation, limiting the available space for bears. Historically, Florida black bears were found throughout much of the state including some coastal areas, but their range has now shrunk to only about 49% of their historic territory. The bear population is now fragmented into six large populations and two smaller ones. 

Florida Black Bear (Ursus americanus floridanus)

Kingdom: Animalia – Includes all animals, excluding plants and single-celled organisms.

Phylum: Chordata – Characterized by having a spinal cord.

Sub-phylum: Vertebrata – Animals with a backbone.

Class: Mammalia – Warm-blooded animals that nurse their young.

Order: Carnivora – Classified based on body structure, though not all are strict carnivores.

Family: Ursidae – The scientific family name for bears.

Subfamily: Ursinae – A subgroup within the bear family.

Genus: Ursus – Latin for “bear.”

Species: americanus – Refers to its North American origin.

Subspecies: floridanus – Denotes that this particular black bear is found in Florida.

Bears are opportunistic omnivores (eat both plants and animals) since their diet is largely determined by whatever they find. However, approximately 80% of their diet comes from plants (acorns, saw palmetto, nuts, berries, and other vegetation). Another 15% of their diet comes from colonial insects (termites, ants, wasps, and bees, as examples). The remaining 5% of their diet is meat, typically things that are dead or play dead (armadillo, opossum). Their diet fluctuates seasonally based on plant productivity so if there is a failure of one food source, there are other sources available for them. The various oaks that are native to Florida all produce a different kind of acorn, which are one of a bear’s favorite seasonal foods. Another favorite is the saw palmetto, as bears will eat the heart and the seasonal berries. 

Their weight also fluctuates throughout the year. Bears generally eat 5,000 calories a day, except in the fall months, when they eat close to 20,000 calories a day. This time of heavy eating is called “hyperphagia”, where they put on as much weight as possible to prepare for winter. Food availability tends to be lower during the Florida “winter months” so they go into hibernation, even in Florida. However, this hibernation is called “winter lethargy”, and they do not fall into a deep sleep. Instead, they may move more slowly and nap for longer periods of time. With at least some food available year-round, individuals may only slow down for a few weeks. 

As of 2018, there have been 15 people injured by Florida black bears. 

Mating season runs from June to early August, and cubs are born generally the last week of January/first week of February. Adult females reach maturity between three and four years old and typically have litters every other year. Bears have a reproductive mechanism called delayed implantation, so after breeding, the female must put on enough fat and weight during the fall months to support herself and cubs; otherwise, she will not have cubs that year. 

Females pregnant with cubs will not begin to roam the area again until the cubs are old enough and big enough (6-8 lbs.) to move about with her. Bear cubs stay with their mothers until 15 – 17 months of age, at which point they go through “family break-up”. Mom will chase them away so they start lives on their own and she will go back into the breeding cycle. Lifespan expectancy depends on the age of the bear; however, under human care, they have been known to live into their 30s. The oldest male bear known about in Florida was 20 years old, and the oldest female was 22 years old. It is difficult to give average life spans because most bears are not documented and followed by biologists. 

Florida black bears play a vital role in maintaining the health of their ecosystem. As they forage for food, they consume a variety of fruits and berries, later dispersing the seeds through their scat, which helps regenerate plant populations and promote forest diversity. Their movement across different habitats ensures that seeds are spread over large areas, supporting plant growth in places where it might not otherwise occur. This natural process contributes to the balance of plant communities, benefiting other wildlife that depends on these habitats for survival. 

In addition to seed dispersal, Florida black bears impact soil health through their foraging behavior. When they dig for insects or tear apart rotting logs in search of food, they aerate the soil, helping to decompose organic matter and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem. This activity creates opportunities for new plant growth and provides shelter for smaller organisms. While these bears are mostly solitary, they may gather in areas with abundant food, such as fruiting trees or rich foraging grounds, momentarily interacting before resuming their independent lifestyles.