Keep Your Animals Safe Around BEARS, COYOTES, and PANTHERS
When pets are outdoors, they can encounter native wildlife from larger carnivores to toxic toads. Bears acting defensively towards dogs contributed to the majority of human injuries caused by bears in Florida.  To keep you and your pets safe, follow some of these best practices:

• ​Keep pets and livestock inside or properly penned. If left outside, provide total containment (secured roof, sides, doors, and bottom). 
• Keep pet food, grills, and trash in a closed garage, barn, sturdy shed, or bear-resistant container.  Keeping these attractants in a screened area may encourage a bear to damage your property to reach the food source.
• Feeding wildlife like deer and birds IS feeding bears. People who do not heed official warnings can face escalating legal consequences including fines and incarceration up to 5 years. A corn feeder for deer or bird feeder offer bears a high calorie meal and will train a bear to keep coming back in proximity to your home and pets.
• Consider carrying bear spray, an air horn, or bear-whistle when walking your dog. Use a non-retractable leash for better control. 
• After dark, consider a headlamp in place of a flashlight when walking pets. This leaves your hands free for controlling the pet or for using deterrents like those listed above. 
• At night, use motion lighting and make noise to scare wildlife away before letting dogs out. Keep them in the lit area.
• Do not release a pet to chase bears, coyotes, or panthers away. Wildlife may respond defensively and injure your pet and potentially you.
• Do not get between a dog and a bear, coyote, or panther. Instead, use a water hose or bear spray from a safe distance.
• If a bear, coyote, or panther turns its attention to you, convince them you are a danger to be avoided. DO NOT RUN. Stay upright. Raise and wave your arms to look bigger and speak to the animal in a loud, assertive voice and use deterrents like bear spray, air horn, or bear whistle. 

---

Free Pet Safety Posters
If your business welcomes pet owners, contact the Naples Zoo to get these free posters created by the Naples Zoo and FWC with information to post in veterinary hospitals, pet stores, etc.  Provide your mailing address and the number of posters needed. Large quantities may require shipping fees. The professionally printed posters are heavyweight and coated so they can be wiped off if needed.

You can also download these 11" x 17" posters and print yourself. 

DOWNLOAD POSTERS:

Bears, Coyotes, and Panthers

​Cane Toads