Out west in Wyoming State, a grizzly bear was captured and moved in association with management efforts regarding cattle depredation. We have no grizzly bears in New York State. Photo provided by Hunting Wire

In Florida, a rare and tragic case for the black bear species occurred on May 2.

An 89-year-old man, Robert Markel, and his dog were attacked in his camping trailer near the village of Jerome. The attack resulted in the death of both the man and the dog. The Florida Fish and Wildlife investigators said that DNA testing confirmed that one of the bears that were euthanized in the area did participate in the attack, as partial remains of Markel were recovered in a 262-pound bear.

Jerome is near the Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area of southwest Florida. The incident has raised concerns about human-bear interactions in Florida, though dangerous black bear encounters in Florida are rare.

In response, FWC officials emphasize the importance of securing trash, food, and pets in bear-inhabited areas to prevent future incidents. Florida’s black bear population has grown to over 4,000 since the 1970s. The FWC continues to investigate this rare and tragic event. There is currently no black bear hunting season in Florida; the last regulated hunt was in 2015, when 304 bears were harvested. The FWC is considering a limited bear hunt through a lottery system, with details in the planning stage.

Out west in Wyoming, a grizzly bear was captured in association with successful cattle depredation management efforts. This bear was not the bear responsible for depredation. In cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Shoshone National Forest, also on May 2, the grizzly bear was relocated to the Ghost Creek drainage approximately 60 miles northwest of Cody.

In Wyoming, Grizzly bears are protected under state and federal regulations, which reflect their status as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). According to the “Hunting Wire,” grizzly bear relocation is a large carnivore management tool biologists can use to minimize conflicts between humans and grizzly bears. Bears that are considered a threat to human safety are not relocated. Sometimes, a bear may be removed from the population, euthanized, if it cannot be relocated successfully.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has established regulations to manage grizzly bears in anticipation of potential future delisting. The grizzly population is estimated at just over 1,000 in Wyoming. There is currently no grizzly bear hunting season in Wyoming, and federal reclassification would be required to have one.

In New York, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation estimates the black bear population to be between 6,000 to 8,000. This population is divided into three areas: The Adirondack region has 50-60 percent of the population (3,000-4,800), the Catskill region has 30-35 percent (1,800-2,800), and the Central-Western Region contains 10-15 percent (600-1,200) black bears. NYSDEC actively monitors and manages the black bear population with public safety education on human-bear interaction and regulated hunting seasons. In 2024, hunters harvested 1,685 black bears in New York.

It’s important to realize that grizzly bears are carnivorous (primarily meat-eaters), and black bears are omnivores. Their diet consists of 80-90 percent plants and berries and 10-20 percent insects and animal matter. Black bears, like all bears, are also considered opportunistic, always looking for an easy meal. These meals usually consist of garbage, birdseed, pet food, and the like, which are usually found in camping areas.

The NYSDEC provides safety advice for New York State residents and visitors through a partnership with the National BearWise® Program, a comprehensive bear management program that includes education, research, and outreach. Visit https://bearwise.org for advice on living with bears while learning to be ‘Bear-Wise’ and ‘Bear-Safe.’ Solid advice for bear species in all states can be found there.

Gotta love the outdoors.

Outdoor Calendar:

May 10-16: Wilson Harbor Salmon Slam Fishing Contest, $1k/day prizes, Info: Kevin Jerge, 716-863-1001.

May 13: Junior Olympic Archery Program for youth 5 – 16 yrs of age, 6 p.m. start, West Falls Conservation, 55 Bridge St., West Falls, NY.

May 17: Ribbons and Bows Charity 3D Archery Shoot, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., $20, Hawkeye Bowmen, 13300 Clinton St., Alden, NY; Info: Deb Frederiksen, defrederiksen85@gmail.com.