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What do about our bear problem?
none ^ | tonight | me

Posted on 11/30/2004 11:10:01 PM PST by Big Guy and Rusty 99

My wife (repo girl) and I live in a nice woody gated community Longwood, Fl. According to the security here, it is a nature preserve. Due to the hurricanes, the bears in the area have migrated to the more populated areas. Now they are being more than nuicences, getting into the trash and even going after my neighbor. I had a personal one on one with the mama bear while I was walking my 90 lb rottie named Ursa. Luckily, neither ura nor I whetted the bear's appetite. I consider myself and Ursa lucky that we didn't suddenly into a roasted chicken to the hungry bear like the old droopy cartoons.

In short my questions are:
1) What can we do to 'get rid off the bears' in our area
2) or at least ward them off?
3) Does the pepper spray work?
4) Am I in serious danger when I walk my dog at night?
5) Is it possible that the bears will get the smart idea to come into the house? (one of them tried to break into my neighbors garage)


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Outdoors; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: animalrights; bear; environment; florida; help; wildlife
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thanks in advance for your advice.
1 posted on 11/30/2004 11:10:01 PM PST by Big Guy and Rusty 99
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To: Big Guy and Rusty 99
4) Am I in serious danger when I walk my dog at night?

Yep.

2 posted on 11/30/2004 11:13:11 PM PST by Brad’s Gramma (Proud Patriots dot com! Check it out!!!)
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To: Big Guy and Rusty 99

"What can we do to get rid of bears in our area?"

Eat 'em.


3 posted on 11/30/2004 11:16:04 PM PST by shibumi (John Galt is alive and well. He tends bar in a casino restaurant.)
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To: Big Guy and Rusty 99
I was walking my 90 lb rottie named Ursa

It is a bit ironic that you have named your dog ursa.

4 posted on 11/30/2004 11:17:04 PM PST by USNBandit (Florida military absentee voter number 537.)
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To: USNBandit

yea, she's our little bear but she thinks she's a lapdog.


5 posted on 11/30/2004 11:18:18 PM PST by Big Guy and Rusty 99 ("na na na na na na na na LEADER!")
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To: shibumi

I got a 7mm,want to borrow it?


6 posted on 11/30/2004 11:19:01 PM PST by loboinok (GUN CONTROL IS HITTING WHAT YOU AIM AT.)
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To: Big Guy and Rusty 99
Well, it's the same as any community that has bears nearby. Don't be out at dusk and dawn when the bears are most active, make sure you don't walk quietly; carrying a large walking stick is handy (holding it up in the air makes you appear larger if you are confronted by a bear.) Don't run away from the bear; walk to a place of safety.

Ensure that all food products are disposed of into bear proof containers - you can buy them online if you need to. If you're reaching for pepper spray, you're not walking away from the bear. If you've trained your dog to bark, have the dog bark if you see a bear.

Do not leave pet food outside. Feed your animals at regular times (not sunrise/sunset) and then remove the bowls, or better yet, feed them indoors like the garage. Small quiet pets should not be left outside at dawn or dusk, nor overnight. Keep them indoors.

As to how to remove the bears, you basically have to document them becoming dependent or unafraid of humans and then contact your fish and game department for trapping and relocation. Make sure anyone who stays at home in your neighborhood has a video recorder available and charged at all times to document any bear behavior that presents a danger (do not go walking towards the bear to photograph them!)

Make sure your neighbors follow the same procedures. It has to be a community effort, including calls by everyone in the community to fish and game for the quickest response.
7 posted on 11/30/2004 11:21:15 PM PST by kingu (Which would you bet on? Iraq and Afghanistan? Or Haiti and Kosovo?)
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To: Big Guy and Rusty 99
We had a bear break into our cabin (near Big Bear Lake, Calif) in the spring. He got into the fridge and made a mess. Took off up the mountain with a half gallon jug of syrup dribbling behind him. Left the fridge door open too. It was probably about a week before we got back up there and discovered it.

He got in by breaking windows that were about two and a half feet off the ground. A camp nearby said they had a bear break in through a window that was 15 feet off the ground.

Once a Bear has discovered that there are good things to eat inside a house, they will become career criminals, and your local wildlife officers may need to impose the death penalty.

Good luck.

8 posted on 11/30/2004 11:29:30 PM PST by passionfruit (passionate about my politics, and from the land of fruits and nuts)
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To: loboinok
Florida black bear is a protected species. wildlife authority would not appreciate me shooting at it
9 posted on 11/30/2004 11:29:52 PM PST by Big Guy and Rusty 99 ("na na na na na na na na LEADER!")
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To: loboinok
Florida black bear is a protected species. wildlife authority would not appreciate me shooting at it
10 posted on 11/30/2004 11:29:53 PM PST by Big Guy and Rusty 99 ("na na na na na na na na LEADER!")
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To: Big Guy and Rusty 99
Seriously, if you want to get rid of your bears there are steps you can take. I'm no expert, but I've lived in the Tahoe area for several years and have to be bear aware when hiking and camping. The key is that your new bears are getting habituated to food sources in your neighborhood. That has to stop. If you don't stop it now the solutions will only become more expensive later.

1. Contact animal control for help. They may be able to give a workshop on not habituating bears to enter your neighborhood. They might also be able to dart, remove, relocate and mark bears. Marked bears that return may have to be destroyed.

2. You live in a gated community, which I assume would have a fairly active homeowner's association. That association can enact and enforce some temporary restrictions on the food sources for the bears, including the storage of trash and recyclables, outdoor cooking appliances, cleaning of game and fish, etc. The association might be able to bring in bear resistant dumpsters so that bears don't have lots of garbage cans to go after.

3. For your home and car I would recommend keeping all food out of the garage and auto. Dogfood inside, no McDonald's bags in the auto. If you have the familymobile with cheerios, etc in the seats clean it out. Close the doors on your house, not just the screen door.

4. As far as walking the dog, it should still be okay. Remember that you are dealing with two animals the dog and the bear. If you spot a bear you need to keep the animals apart. There are pepper spray dispensers on the market for bears. I haven't used them, but I think they are more like the riot control style bottle. That shouldn't be your first response, it should be your last.

11 posted on 11/30/2004 11:35:55 PM PST by USNBandit (Florida military absentee voter number 537.)
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To: Big Guy and Rusty 99

Florida black bear is a protected species. wildlife authority would not appreciate me shooting at it

While armed,I'm a protected species also...I have an aversion to bears gnawing on me.


12 posted on 12/01/2004 2:02:35 AM PST by loboinok (GUN CONTROL IS HITTING WHAT YOU AIM AT.)
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To: Big Guy and Rusty 99
What to do about our bear problem?

If you must ........ put on some clothes.

13 posted on 12/01/2004 3:52:29 AM PST by beyond the sea (I know beyond a doubt ...... my heart will lead me there)
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To: beyond the sea

Nothing worse than seeing a big bear behind.


14 posted on 12/01/2004 4:26:26 AM PST by carlr
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To: Big Guy and Rusty 99
Florida black bear is a protected species. wildlife authority would not appreciate me shooting at it.

Then why in the heck aren't they doing something about them? If I were you I'd go to your friendly neighborhood Wallyworld and buy yourself one of those high powered pellet rifles. Pump that thing about ten times(the more you pump it the more powerful it is) and if and when you see a bear let'em have it in the butt, in the nose where ever. It'll get the message real quick!

15 posted on 12/01/2004 4:55:39 AM PST by Mier (Remember what dums said about you after this election, they'll want your vote the next election!)
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To: Mier; glock rocks; Squantos; Eaker; NormsRevenge; steveegg
A pellet gun!!

Lesson 101 on HOW TO PISS OFF A BEAR!!!

Very BAD advise...

If your gonna shoot a bear you damned well better kill it.

Morning laugh time over here guys
16 posted on 12/01/2004 5:05:58 AM PST by ChefKeith (Life is GREAT with CoCo..........NASCAR...everything else is just a game!(Except War & Love))
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To: Big Guy and Rusty 99

Pay NO mind to post 15!


17 posted on 12/01/2004 5:07:36 AM PST by ChefKeith (Life is GREAT with CoCo..........NASCAR...everything else is just a game!(Except War & Love))
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To: Big Guy and Rusty 99
4) Am I in serious danger when I walk my dog at night?


Not with one of these.

18 posted on 12/01/2004 5:14:20 AM PST by shezza (Set beeber to stune)
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To: Big Guy and Rusty 99; farmfriend; GladesGuru
1) What can we do to 'get rid off the bears' in our area
2) or at least ward them off?
>>>>Lock trash cans or get animal-proof recepticles like you see at state parks. I'm guessing they are after food.

3) Does the pepper spray work?
>>>> not sure

4) Am I in serious danger when I walk my dog at night?
>>>>No Floridian has ever been attacked/killed by a black bear.

5) Is it possible that the bears will get the smart idea to come into the house?
>>>>Yes. Remember the bear who visited the Featherlite factory in Sanford.

19 posted on 12/01/2004 5:16:46 AM PST by stainlessbanner
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To: carlr
a big bear behind.

Hillary 'Wide Load' Clinton

20 posted on 12/01/2004 5:35:41 AM PST by beyond the sea (I know beyond a doubt ...... my heart will lead me there)
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