Animal/Human Conflicts

Securing Pet Food from Florida Black Bears and Coyotes

Elina Garrison grad assistant holds an armful of bearcubs.

The Florida black bear and the coyote are both prevalent throughout the state of Florida. The number one cause of human-wildlife conflict for these two species are food attractants, including pet food. This 2-page fact sheet written by Kelley C. Anderson and Elizabeth F. Pienaar and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation explains how to secure pets and pet food against both the Florida black bear and the coyote and keep people, pets, and wildlife safe.
edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw437

Securing Bird Feeders from Florida Black Bears

The Florida black bear (Ursus americanus floridanus) is the only species of bear in Florida, with an estimated population of approximately 4,030 bears. Bears are excellent climbers and can access bird feeders that are suspended from trees. This 3-page fact sheet written by Ethan T. Noel and Elizabeth F. Pienaar and published by the Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Department explains how to secure bird seed from bears so that they don’t become reliant on human food sources, a condition that puts them at greater risk of being killed from vehicle collisions, illegal shooting, or euthanasia.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw430

Managing Conflicts with Wildlife: Living with Snakes

Snakes provide numerous benefits to people and to the environment, by controlling rat and mice populations in the environment, for example. Or in the laboratory, where pygmy rattlesnake venom research helped develop medicine to thin the blood of heart attack patients. Most snakes are secretive and rarely bother people, but there are situations where some snakes can become dangerous. In this 4-page fact sheet, we present some facts about snakes, describe dangers they may cause, and provide suggestions on how to cope with these dangers. Written by Holly K. Ober, Steve Johnson, and William M. Giuliano, and published by the UF Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, November 2014. (Photo: Steve Johnson)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw395

FOR182/FR247 Forest Management in the Interface: Wildlife

FOR-182, a 7-page illustrated fact sheet by Jim Parkhurst and Martha Monroe, highlights key wildlife management issues in interface forests and provides background information on potential conflicts. Includes references. Published by the UF School of Forest Resources and Conservation, October 2008.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FR247

WEC48/UW076 Laws that Protect Florida’s Wildlife

Revised! WEC-48, a 6-page fact sheet by Joe Schaefer, John Tucker, and Maia McGuire, summarizes laws and regulations at the Federal and State level that protect Florida’s wildlife, and how to report violations or wildlife emergencies. Published by the UF Department of Wildife Ecology and Conservation, October 2008.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/UW076