‘JUST FOLLOW THE TRAIL OF TRASH': From the garbage can to the burial ground, FWC reveals the bear facts

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission works day in a day out to balance the harmony between black bears and humans as they coexist in Okalsooa and the surrounding counties.

The Florida black bear is an endangered and protected species as its population dwindles from the ten thousands to just a few hundred.

Andrew Jernigan and Kevin McDonald are wildlife technicians with the FWC and spend just as much time educating people how to keep away from bears as they do protecting deceased bears from humans.

On Friday, the pair went walking down Evergreen Drive in Navarre, a street which backs right up to the edge of Eglin Air Force Base, talking about their favorite client and all it’s woes, the black bear.

“They really thrive here in all the swampy brush,” said Jernigan.

Jernigan said the neighborhood has seen a lot of bears lately, which has even caused a few residents to move away. With a close look, one could see almost all the trashcans on the quiet street adorn silver locks on the lids. Even so, there are scratch marks carved in the green plastic anyway.

“When they can’t get it open, they just drag the whole thing to the woods,” said McDonald.

McDonald makes his way to the brush, pointing to the trail laid thick with trash.

“That’s how we can find them, just follow the trail of trash,” he said.

He stepped over a few vines going deeper in the brush, he pointed about 100 yards away.

“You can see the trash all the way out there.”

While the bears flourish in this tiny neighborhood, living the good life and eating leftovers, the bears who wander near the highway are in for a different experience.

The No. 1 cause of death for the Florida black bear is roadkill.

“Unfortunately it is very common,” said Jernigan. “It always varies, but we’ve had at least 10 over the past three months.”

Unlike a squirrel, when a bear dies from being hit by a car, it receives a proper burial. The FWC buries the bears 10-feet deep in an undisclosed location and grassy field behind lock and key.

“If we bury them, then we don’t have to worry about anyone bothering them,” said McDonald.

According to the Humane Society, selling certain parts of one bear can total up to $10,000. While the international black market for bears parts includes gallbladders for brine, paws and claws, the only evidence of bear-parts collected locally are the claws.

“Picked one up a little while ago off 98 with its three middle fingers missing,” said McDonald.
Which is more than enough reason to bury them.