The Florida black bear, scientifically known as Ursus americanus floridanus, is a unique subspecies of the American black bear and Florida’s largest native land mammal. Once widespread across the state, its population faced significant challenges due to habitat loss and unregulated hunting. Today, the bear is a conservation success story, but its continued presence requires careful management to ensure both its long-term survival and the safety of the growing human population.
Current Population Estimates and Trends
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) uses scientific modeling to estimate the total number of bears. The most recent official statewide estimate, based on 2017 research, suggests a population of approximately 4,050 black bears. This number represents a robust and widespread population across Florida.
This estimate indicates a remarkable recovery over the past few decades. In the 1970s, the population had fallen dramatically to as few as 300 to 500 individuals, leading to the species being designated as Threatened in 1974. Conservation efforts, habitat restoration, and legal protections allowed the population to rebound. The successful recovery led the FWC to officially classify the Florida black bear as a “Recovered” species in 2012, removing it from the state’s list of threatened species. Wildlife managers continue to monitor the population because not all regional subpopulations are growing at the same rate.
Geographic Distribution Across Florida
The black bear population is not evenly distributed but is instead fragmented into several distinct subpopulations across the state. The FWC manages these groups within seven established geographic areas called Bear Management Units (BMUs). These BMUs allow the FWC to tailor conservation and conflict-mitigation strategies to the specific dynamics of the bears and human residents in each region.
The bear range has re-expanded significantly since the mid-1970s, now occupying about 49% of its historic territory. The Central BMU, which includes the Ocala National Forest and St. Johns River watershed, contains one of the largest subpopulations, estimated at 1,200 bears in 2014. Other major subpopulations are found in the East Panhandle (Apalachicola National Forest) and the South BMU (Big Cypress National Preserve).
Population density varies greatly. For example, the Central BMU historically accounts for over half of all bear deaths caused by vehicle strikes statewide, indicating a high level of bear movement and interaction with human infrastructure in that area. The use of BMUs helps biologists track these regional differences in abundance, habitat health, and mortality rates.
Monitoring Techniques Used by Wildlife Agencies
Wildlife agencies cannot perform a simple head count of black bears because the animals are secretive and inhabit dense vegetation. Instead, biologists use sophisticated scientific methods to estimate population size and track density trends. The primary technique used by the FWC is a genetic mark-recapture study.
This method involves deploying non-invasive sampling devices known as hair corrals or hair snares across a study area. These are typically small, barbed-wire enclosures baited with a scent lure to attract bears, which then leave tufts of hair as they enter or exit the corral. The hair follicles contain DNA, which is analyzed to uniquely identify individual bears.
The data collected from these hair snares are then used in complex statistical models, like Spatially Explicit Capture-Recapture (SECR), to estimate the density of bears in that area. The FWC also utilizes radio-telemetry and GPS tracking by fitting specialized collars on a sample of bears, usually adult females. These collars record the bears’ locations, providing data on movement, home range size, and survival rates, which is then used to model population dynamics and growth.
Researchers also collect data on bear mortality, such as vehicle strikes and management removals, and track demographic variables like female survival and cub production to build a complete picture of the population’s health. The FWC aims to repeat these comprehensive abundance estimates for each subpopulation approximately every ten years to identify long-term trends and inform management decisions.