Collier officials urging the use of bear-resistant trash cans as populations grow
COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. — Bears are on the move and have appeared all over Southwest Florida this week. Florida’s black bear population continues to grow. There are an estimated 1,000 bears in South Florida living in the conservation areas of Big Cypress National Preserve and Everglades National Park, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Now that bears are becoming more active and roaming closer to humans, officials are urging people to use bear-resistant trash bins. Collier County sells the bear-proof cans for $115 each. People who live in rural...