LOOKIN' GOOD
Florida’s largest native land mammal is one of three distinct subspecies of the American black bear recognized in the southeastern United States. It can be distinguished from other subspecies by the length and shape of its skull. Like many bears, Florida black bears are powerful, 200 to 350 pound animals with rounded ears, short tails, 5-toed feet and large canine teeth. These bears also have thick, curved claws that enable them to climb tress very well. The Florida bears are black with a tan muzzle and may have a white chest marking called a blaze.

MMMM ... HONEY
Contrary to what Winnie the Pooh eats, Florida black bears have a much more diversified diet. They are omnivorous, which means they eat both plant and animal matter. A majority of their diet consists of acorns, nuts, berries and other vegetation as well as insects. A small percentage of their diet is meat which can consist of raccoons, white-tailed deer and birds. Bears use a type of feeding behavior called foraging. Foraging means the animal meanders through an area feeding on appropriate foods it comes across.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Prior to the late 1800s an estimated 12,000 black bears roamed throughout Florida from the Panhandle to the Keys. Since then habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and unregulated hunting have decreased the number to less than 2,000. Today the bear population is isolated and scattered throughout the state mostly within preserved areas such as Big Cypress National Preserve and Ocala National Forest.

Resources for this article have been provided by Wikipedia and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.