FWC: Relocation, captivity not options

CANTONMENT, Fla. (WALA) - Friday's report that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission decided to put down a 20-month-old male black bear that had been hanging around Wild Oak Farms Apartments in Cantonment quickly became a point of conversation among residents along the Gulf Coast.

Several people posted comments about the decision to euthanize the bear on FOX10’s Facebook post asking why the FWC decided not to relocate the bear or place him in captivity. One viewer even said PETA should be alerted.

Because so many residents expressed concern for the bear and the FWC’s actions, FWC Public Information Coordinator Karen Parker sent this response to Northescambia.com.

In the response, Parker says that relocation of the bear wasn’t an option because the bear had become too accustomed to human contact.

“Many people do not understand why we have to do this. The answer is that it wasn't an option for us to release the bear into the wild. He was so conditioned to human-provided food, and showed such a lack of fear of people, that he would simply repeat this behavior elsewhere and someone may be hurt. Unfortunately there are no areas left in Florida where we would feel assured he would not come into contact with people. “

She also says placing the bear in captivity wasn’t the solution stating wild animals often don’t adjust well to confined areas.

“Wild bears taken into captivity risk injuring themselves and their human caretakers as they attempt to escape. These animals also often show signs of stress and depression by remaining in their night dens for weeks or months at a time, destroying items in their exhibits, pacing and swaying repetitively, as well as mutilating themselves.”

In the response, Parker says the FWC understands those who object to this decision.

“It’s heartbreaking to euthanize healthy bears," she says.

For more information about Florida’s bear’s and tips on reducing human-bear conflicts, visit MyFWC.com/bear .