One Bear, Two Bear, Florida Black Bear

Aggressive black bears are uncommon. If a bear feels endangered by humans, they may stomp the ground, or bluff charge (run in your direction and stop before reaching you). The bear is simply trying to tell humans that it needs it’s space. However, bears are wild animals and should be respected.

The Florida Black Bear is Florida’s biggest land-dwelling mammal. Bears are agile climbers, and they frequently climb trees when they are alarmed. Other than mothers and cubs, bears tend to be solitary in nature. If there is plenty of food available, they will seek their food in groups. Bears eat plants, fruit, honey, salmon, and small mammals.

Busch Wildlife Sanctuary is home to two 10-year-old black bears.

“They were given to us by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Unfortunately, their mother was a nuisance bear, and a multiple time offender. She was constantly getting into neighbors and causing a safety risk to humans,” explains Amy Kight, director of Busch Wildlife Sanctuary. “She had also taught her kids the same habits, so they were deemed too used to humans to live safely in the wild. Kiona and Tehya have been with us ever since.”

(Photo courtesy of Busch Wildlife)