Florida Black Bear

The two Florida black bears currently in our care are twin sisters who were brought to the Sanctuary at a young age. Their mother had been relocated from residential areas several times and had been teaching her two cubs to find food in neighborhoods. Bear relocation in Florida is challenging.  Finding large and remote areas where bears can be moved without encountering humans is difficult and bears often return to neighborhoods. After several failed relocations, it was determined that none of the bears would be allowed to remain in the wild, for their safety and that of the community.

A bear's eyesight closely resembles that of a human, and they often stand on their hind legs to gain a better view of their surroundings. However, their reliance on their sense of smell is profound. A bear's sense of smell is unparalleled among land mammals, surpassing even that of a bloodhound -  by seven times! Additionally, the olfactory region of a bear's brain is six times larger than that of a human, emphasizing the significance of smell in their perception of the world. Smell serves as a primary means through which a bear interprets its environment. Recent studies suggest that black bears can detect scents from distances exceeding a mile.

Learn more from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/wildlife/bear/

https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/mammals/land/black-bear/