Minimizing Bear Incidents In Residential Subdivisions

Residential developments in Florida increasingly encroach into black bear habitat. While not typically aggressive, bears can cause problems, including property damage and personal injury. There are ways that a developer, homebuilder or manager of a homeowners' association (HOA) can minimize bear incidents in communities. If a bear attack occurs in your subdivision, you could face a liability claim if you knew bear incursions were likely and did nothing to ameliorate them.

Bears typically enter subdivisions seeking food, which they can smell for miles. Sometimes residents leave food out for wild animals, or inadvertently fail to secure food sources. While their normal diet in the wild can sustain them, bears would rather eat easier pickings like garbage, pet food, birdseed and drippings from BBQ grills.