Environmental organizations say they consider the Florida black bear and panther populations conservation success stories. Their numbers are coming back.
But this has also led to more human interactions. Federal, state and local stakeholders are holding a workshop Saturday in Naples to talk about how to live alongside these species.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Servicespokesperson Ken Warren said when a recovering species mixes with a growing human population, it puts the two on a kind of collision course.
“One of the most important aspects of making that go smoothly is community outreach and education to make sure people understand how to live and coexist more effectively with that species or those species,” he said.
Warren said one of the reasons the workshop will be in Naples is because Collier County is primary panther habitat. As more panthers appear, rancher’s say they’re killing livestock and affecting their livelihoods.
The workshop will cover pen building, and financial assistance programs. Warren said the pens can be expensive.
Bear deterrence methods will also be discussed. State wildlife officials received almost 4,900 calls from people either concerned about or reporting bear sightings through the first 10 months of 2015.
Biologists will be on hand to answer questions about both animals.
Warren said the workshop can provide tools to help people protect their families, pets and livestock.
Event: The wildlife workshop takes place Saturday, Nov. 21 at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Collier County Extension Office, 14700 Immokalee Road, Naples. There will be two sessions starting at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. respectively.
