FWC biologists have responded several times to this bear during the past week.

“At this point, we’re not planning to trap this bear,” said Eric Dennis, FWC wildlife assistance biologist. “We want to use aversive conditioning such as bean bags fired from shotguns and paint ball pellets to let the bear know that being around people isn’t a pleasant experience.”

This bear isn’t returning to one particular place, so putting out a culvert trap would be ineffective.

The most important thing to remember is, do not entice the bear with food.

“Problems arise when bears have access to unnatural food sources such as pet foods, garbage, barbecue grills, birdseed or livestock feed,” Dennis said. “Bears learn very quickly to associate peoples’ property with food, and this puts the bear at increased risk because of traffic, poaching or management action.”

Black bears normally are too shy to risk contact with humans, but their strong food drive can overwhelm these instincts. Residents can help this bear “move on, ” so it does not become a problem.

“We’re hoping that if people remove the attractants, the bear will return to Paynes Prairie,” Dennis said.

Properly storing or securing garbage is a proven method of discouraging bears. Birdseed and barbecue grills should be stored in a secure place, such as a garage or a sturdy shed. Garbage can be placed outside on the morning of pickup rather than the night before. People can encourage their neighbors, community or local government to use bear-resistant trash containers or dumpsters.

“Another way people can help is to feed pets indoors or bring in dishes after feeding,” Dennis said.

Relocating the bear is not a good option, Dennis explained.

“Relocation is stressful to bears and often places them in another bear’s territory. Often, a relocated bear may try to return to its original home and, in the process, cross busy roads, creating a danger for itself and motorists,” Dennis said.

“Another reason not to relocate bears is that it requires chemically immobilizing the animal,” Dennis said. “This subjects the bear to additional stress with no guarantees of how it will react around people before it goes to sleep or how it will handle the drug.” 

“If you see a black bear, remain calm. Don’t run away. Walk calmly toward a building or vehicle and get inside,” Dennis said. “If you have children or pets, bring them inside. Encourage the bear to leave. Bang pots and pans, or blow an air horn or whistle. The more stressful a bear's encounter with you and your property, the less likely it is to come back.”

If a bear is in a tree, leave it alone. Remove people and dogs from the area. The bear usually will come down and leave when it feels safe. This will most likely not occur until after dark.

If the bear is threatening the safety of humans, pets or livestock or is causing property damage, it should be reported to the FWC at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

Residents can find out more about living with black bears at MyFWC.com/Bear.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) urges boaters to stay safe andfollow the rules to have agreat day on the water. The FWC and other federal and local agencies are participating in National Safe Boating Week activities, May 18-24, to promote safe boating practices.

“Enjoy the day, be safe and wear your life jacket,” said Capt. John Burton, area supervisor in the FWC’s Crystal River Field Office. “For the Memorial Day weekend, FWC officers will be out in force, working overtime on our heavily used waterways. Officers will be checking boating safety equipment, looking for careless and reckless operation, and targeting boat operators who are under the influenceof drugs or alcoholic beverages. Please make sure to have all the required safety equipment on your boat, and if alcoholic beverages are part of your outing, have a designated driver operating the boat,” Burton said.

In 2012 there were more than 700 boating accidents, and 55 people tragically lost their lives as a result. FWC officers do all they can to keep people safe, but there are also measures that boaters should take to protect themselves.

“The combination of paying attention to your surroundings and other vessel traffic, abiding by navigation rules and wearing life jackets while on the water could result in fewer injuries and deaths,” Burton said.

“We want everyone to have fun and enjoy their time on the water,” Burton said. “We also want everyone to make it home safe.”

For more boating safety information, visit MyFWC.com/Boating. To report people who are operating boats dangerously, call 888-404-FWCC or text Tip@MyFWC.com.

This is also the time of year when the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) begins getting calls about “abandoned” animals that folks believe may be in need of rescue.

However, these rescues may do more harm than good.

After giving birth, adult wildlife must forage to provide food for themselves and their young. This means leaving their newborns for short periods.

Having some basic knowledge of wildlife and the survival skills animals use can help avoid attempting to rescue animals that don’t need rescuing.

A common target of misplaced rescues is baby deer, temporarily left in a safe place while their mothers feed nearby. Many people who find fawns mistakenly assume they have been abandoned, when, in reality, their parents are in the process of ensuring the infants’ survival.

“In most cases, it is absolutely not in a fawn’s best interest to ‘rescue’ it,” said Allan Hallman, wildlife biologist at the FWC’s Camp Blanding Field Office.

Hallman says what typically happens is someone discovers a young deer waiting for its mother. Often, those fawns are found in palmetto patches or in recently burned areas, where a doe has placed her new offspring for protection. These settings tend to help mask the fawn’s scent, thus providing good protection from the keen nose of a predator.

People discover these seemingly abandoned baby deer and become concerned when the parent is nowhere in sight. The would-be rescuers falsely believe the young animal will perish unless they save it or take it to a wildlife rehabilitation center.

“Unfortunately, actions of this kind usually have the opposite effect of a rescue,” Hallman said. “The stress created by changing the animal’s diet and surroundings is often fatal.

“If the rescued fawn manages to survive, its return to the wild is practically impossible because of human imprinting or a lack of survival skills. If it had remained wild, the young deer would have learned the necessary survival skills from its mother,” Hallman said.

Another way to help with the survival of young animals is to not feed them. Although that may sound odd, feeding can cause problems ranging from poor nutrition to dependence on humans for food and loss of foraging skills, all of which can decrease the critter’s chances of survival.

“These animals have survived for a long time without our assistance. They can continue to survive without handouts,” Hallman said.

The FWC recommends that if you find a fawn or other baby animal, don’t touch it, and quietly leave the area.

Juvenile birds are commonly found on the ground at this time of year, looking a bit dazed or confused. The youngster may be trying to hide in tall grass or in low bushes to avoid being seen by predators. These young birds are going through a process called fledging – learning to fly now that they have adult feathers. During this process, the immature birds sometimes end up on the ground, where they may spend several days before they learn all their flight skills.

“While on the ground, juvenile birds’ parents continue to watch over them, feeding them and helping them learn necessary survival skills. Help the parents by keeping any pets that may harm the young birds indoors during the spring and summer,” Hallman said. “Please don’t interfere in this crucial learning process.”

Here are some important facts that can help determine if a baby bird needs rescuing. According to biologists, the only time a baby songbird should be rescued is when it is on the ground and has almost no feathers, when the bird is injured by pets or its tail is less than a half-inch long, and it cannot hop around on its own.

If you find a baby songbird you are sure needs rescuing, and the nest is low enough for you to safely return it to its home, it’s OK to do that.

“Songbirds have almost no sense of smell, so the young birds can be returned to their nest without much chance of rejection,” Hallman said.

The other approach, when you are sure birds need rescuing and care by a wildlife rehabilitator, is to place the baby in a tissue-lined box that has air holes in the top. Keep the box in a warm spot away from drafts and air conditioning and out of direct sunlight. Do not give it food or water. Call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator in your area. The FWC’s North Central Region Office, 386-758-0525, has a list of rehabbers. Many local veterinarians also work closely with wildlife rehabilitators and also can be a good source of advice.

“You can also place the bird in a lined, uncovered, shallow box with drainage and attach the box to the tree from where the bird fell. Sometimes the parents will come to the baby in the new box and feed it there,” Hallman said.

This gives the birds a chance to be raised properly by their parents.

“Most parents will come back to care for the fledgling. Sometimes, however, they reject the chick because of a limited food supply, an inability to care for the young chick, or for other reasons we may not understand,” Hallman said. “If the parents don’t return, then the chick should be taken to a rehab center. Migratory birds are protected and need to be cared for by a licensed facility.”  

The FWC asks you to remember that removing an animal from the wild to save it may actually have the opposite effect. Seek advice from wildlife professionals before attempting to rescue any animal.

“Remember that in most cases, it’s better to leave wildlife wild,” Hallman said.

For more information on Florida’s wildlife and what you can do to help, go to MyFWC.com/Conservation and select “How You Can Conserve” and then “Wildlife Assistance – Injured or Nuisance Wildlife.”

Charles W. Catanese (DOB 06/12/42) was pulled from the surf at 1:55 p.m., according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) investigators.

Catanese and Dexton Manor (DOB 10/02/64), from Atlantic Beach, were fishing just outside the surf off the state park when a large wave overturned their vessel, according to officials.

Both men were ejected into the water. Manor was able to grab a life vest from the water and swim to shore. Catanese was pulled from the surf and pronounced dead at the scene.

The boat was a 2008 18-foot Duracraft center console.

The FWC is continuing the investigation.

The Saturday event is free and open to all ages. It begins at 10 a.m. and lasts until 2 p.m. Advance registration is not necessary.

Activities include fishing, archery, shooting sport stations, K-9 demonstration, wild animal displays, hayrides and more. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and its partners will have activities and educational programs that highlight the conservation of Florida’s fish and wildlife resources.

Also, outdoor television personality and Xtreme Sport Shooter Patrick Flanigan will be there, giving demonstrations at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

All attending youth age 15 and under will have a chance to win one of several door prizes, including hunting and fishing gear, a week of summer camp at the Ocala Outdoor Adventure Camp or a spot at the BTYCC summer camp.

Food will be available for purchase, or attendees can bring their own sack lunch.

Partners participating in the event include the Florida State Forest Service, National Wild Turkey Federation, U.S. Forest Service, United Waterfowlers of Florida, Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl, Homestead Ministries, American Red Cross, Jefferson County Extension Office, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson Long Rifles, Plantation Security, Honoring the Troops, and Red Hills Chapter of Quail Forever.

For more information on Beau Turner’s Outdoor Experience, or to obtain more detailed driving directions to the center, call 850-717-8702, or go to BTYCC.org.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) lifted the idle-speed, no-wake restriction on Zone 5, which runs from River Rise in O’Leno State Park west to the confluence of the Suwannee River. This 32-mile segment is an idle-speed, no-wake zone when the Santa Fe River reaches 17 feet, as indicated on the Three Rivers gauge, where flood stage is 19 feet.

“The Suwannee River Water Management District verified the water level has fallen below the required 17 feet at Three Rivers,” said Capt. Martin Redmond, area supervisor at the FWC’s Lake City office.

“There are now no active idle-speed, no-wake zones on the river system, but we would request that boaters be aware that there is still quite a bit of debris on the rivers,” Redmond said. 

An idle-speed, no-wake restriction means a vessel must proceed at a speed no greater than what is required to maintain steerageway and headway in that river zone. At no time is any vessel required to proceed so slowly that the operator is unable to control it or anything it may be towing.

The Suwannee and Santa Fe rivers are divided into five flood zones.

The other four zones are:

• Zone 1. It runs from the U.S. 90 Bridge at Ellaville south to the State Road 51 Bridge at Luraville. This 39-mile segment becomes an idle-speed, no-wake zone when the Suwannee River reaches 47 feet or more at the Ellaville gauge, where flood stage is 54 feet.
• Zone 2. It stretches from the S.R. 51 Bridge at Luraville to Little River Spring. This 18-mile segment becomes an idle-speed, no-wake zone when the Suwannee River reaches 26 feet or more above mean sea level at the Branford gauge, where flood stage is 29 feet.
• Zone 3. It runs from Little River Spring to the County Road 340 Bridge at Rock Bluff. This 23-mile segment is an idle-speed, no-wake zone as long as the Suwannee River is at 24 feet or more at the Branford gauge.
• Zone 4. It is from the C.R. 340 Bridge at Rock Bluff to one mile below the Fowler Bluff Boat Ramp. This 51-mile segment becomes an idle-speed, no wake-zone when the Suwannee River reaches 9 feet or more at the Wilcox gauge, where flood stage is 11 feet.

To obtain real-time river level information, visit www.mysuwanneeriver.com.

Zone 5, which runs from River Rise within O’Leno State Park west to the confluence of the Suwannee River, was activated as an idle-speed, no-wake zone Sunday because of rising water levels.

This area of the river becomes an idle-speed, no-wake zone when the Santa Fe River reaches 17 feet as indicated on the Three Rivers gauge, where flood stage is 19 feet.

“The Santa Fe reached that level Sunday. This is the second time in a month that we’ve had to activate this zone. It was originally activated March 3 and then deactivated March 21,” said Capt. Martin Redmond, area supervisor at the FWC’s Lake City office.

An idle-speed, no-wake zone means a vessel must proceed at a speed no greater than required to maintain steerageway and headway. At no time is any vessel required to proceed so slowly the operator is unable to control it or anything it may be towing.

FWC officers will be patrolling this area of the river to ensure the idle-speed, no-wake zone is enforced, Redmond said.

“We don’t expect the zone to be in effect for very long,” Redmond said. “However, the higher water levels can create navigational hazards, such as floating debris, rocks, stumps and shoaling conditions for unsuspecting boaters. We want everyone to be safe.”

The idle-speed, no-wake zone will stay in effect until the water level recedes below 17 feet.

The other four zones are:

• Zone 1 - from the U.S. 90 Bridge at Ellaville south to the State Road 51 Bridge at Luraville. This 39-mile segment becomes an idle-speed, no-wake zone when the Suwannee River reaches 47 feet or more above mean sea level at the Ellaville gauge, where flood stage is 54 feet.
• Zone 2 - from the S.R. 51 Bridge at Luraville to Little River Spring. This 18-mile segment becomes an idle-speed, no-wake zone when the Suwannee River reaches 26 feet or more above mean sea level at the Branford gauge, where flood stage is 29 feet.
• Zone 3 - from Little River Spring to the County Road 340 Bridge at Rock Bluff. This 23-mile segment becomes an idle-speed, no-wake zone when the Suwannee River reaches 24 feet or more above mean sea level at the Branford gauge.
• Zone 4 - from the C.R. 340 Bridge at Rock Bluff to one mile below the Fowler Bluff Boat Ramp. This 51-mile segment will be an idle-speed, no wake-zone when the Suwannee River reaches 9 feet or more above mean sea level at the Wilcox gauge, where flood stage is 11 feet.

For more information about the flood zones, please call 386-758-0525. To report violations, please call 888-404-3922.  

To obtain real-time river levels, visit www.mysuwanneeriver.com.

This regional season will remain open through June 30, with the first day of the closure being July 1. The season also includes all waters of Apalachicola Bay and Indian Pass, including those in Gulf County, and all waters of the Steinhatchee River, including those in Dixie County.

Gag grouper caught in state waters (from shore to nine nautical miles out) off the four counties may not be taken ashore in areas that are closed to harvest. For example, a gag grouper caught April 1 in state waters off Jefferson County cannot be taken ashore in Dixie County, excluding the Steinhatchee River.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) set this regional season at its February Commission meeting to provide fishing opportunities for private recreational anglers when gag grouper are closer to shore and can be safely accessed by smaller boats. The overall fishing effort for gag grouper is low in these counties, because it is the least densely populated region of Florida’s Gulf Coast. The FWC also established this spring season to balance the economic and social needs of the region with the conservation needs of gag grouper.

In the remainder of Gulf of Mexico state waters, fishermen will be able to keep gag grouper from July 1 through Dec. 3. State waters off Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor counties will not be open during the July-through-December season. The season in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico also opens July 1 and will close when the annual catch target is projected to be met, which is expected to be sometime between Nov. 11 and Dec. 3.

Gag grouper caught in state waters outside of the four-county region and in federal waters may be taken ashore in Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor counties during the federal season or the July-through-December state season. However, boats with gag grouper aboard may not stop in state waters off the four-county region and must have gear stowed while traveling through it to shore. Monroe County state waters are included in the Atlantic seasons and regulations for gag grouper and will not be open during the July through December season.

The FWC is working with Florida’s anglers to rebuild gag grouper populations in the Gulf of Mexico so they reach strong, sustainable levels.

The gag grouper recreational harvest minimum size and bag limits are 22 inches total length and two gag grouper per person. No more than four of any species of grouper may be kept.

To learn more, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Saltwater,” “Recreational Regulations” and “Gulf Grouper.”

Idle-speed, no-wake restrictions on Zone 5 – a 32-mile segment from River Rise in O’Leno State Park west to the confluence of the Suwannee River – were activated  March 3, when the Santa Fe River reached 17 feet on the Three Rivers gauge, where flood stage is 19 feet.

For more information about the flood zones, please call 386-758-0525. To report violations, please call 888-404-3922.  

To obtain real-time river level information, visit MySuwanneeRiver.com.

The class is April 11 from 6 - 9 p.m. in Lake Butler and April 13 from 8 a.m. until completed in Lake City. Students who have taken the online course and wish to complete this classroom portion must bring the online-completion report with them.

The locations for this class will be given to those who register in advance by calling the regional FWC office at 386-758-0525 or going to MyFWC.com/HunterSafety.

All firearms, ammunition and materials are provided free of charge. Students should bring a pen or pencil and paper. An adult must accompany children younger than 16 at all times.

People born on or after June 1, 1975, must complete the hunter safety course before purchasing a Florida hunting license. The FWC course satisfies hunter safety training requirements for all other states and Canadian provinces.

Those interested in attending a course can register online and obtain information about future hunter safety classes at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety or by calling the FWC’s regional office in Lake City at 386-758-0525.