Many readers questioned Santa Rosa Commissioner Bob Cole's comments concerning bears. Here are featured comments from our Speak Out hotline, discussions on www.srpressgazette.com and its sister websites.
BEAR-RESISTANT TRASH CANS WORK
… The bear eating dog food in the garage did no one any harm, which is a great illustration of the reasoning behind most bears [being] killed due to human carelessness.
A majority of the time, it is not because of anything the bears do. This loss of life is generally due to human fear of what the bear might do. So, the FWC is called in — the people we entrust with our wildlife — and they kill the bear because of fear (there’s that word again) of liability.
An uproar, perpetuated by the FWC and fueled by the media and people like this intolerant commissioner, ensues and we are soon clamoring for a bear hunt which does nothing to solve any so-called bear “problems.”
Can I remind you of science-based management, commissioner? Remember that 12-month study conducted in Volusia county where human-bear conflicts decreased by 95 percent with the use of bear-resistant trash cans?
Other studies conducted elsewhere demonstrate similar results…
Alex Foxx
TAKE STEPS TO CO-EXIST
The [Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission] tried a hunt in 2015, which didn't solve human-bear conflict issues and instead brought world-wide condemnation on them for the brutality.
It was a disaster from which they apparently learned well.
But even if the FWC foolishly sanctions a bear hunt, their "science" only allows for the taking of 10 percent of the estimated population of bears. This leaves 90 percent of our bears to still be attracted into Commissioner Cole's open garage by his readily available dog food.
It is unbearably myopic to think that his problem is to be solved by killing off our natural, native fauna … instead of taking steps to coexist.
Steve Gafford
TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
It just takes a little common sense to secure things like pet food and close garage doors. Take responsibility for your actions and stop blaming the bears…
Mary Shabbott
STOP THE DESTRUCTION
We have taken away all of the land that these beautiful beings call home. Now you want to destroy them just for trying to survive. You say that another hunt is the answer. Killing is never the answer. Learning how to coexist is. Just stop the talk of destruction. It is wrong in every way!
Gail Brousseau-Patak
SELFISH PEOPLE
Have they ever thought the bear wandering around human habitation is happy to co-exist? So they're killed. Hunted. People only think of themselves.
Gill Griffith
THIS METHOD WORKS
- As a grown up you have to take personal responsibility. We live in Florida, which is known for its wildlife. If you want to live here, you better learn to adapt. That means securing your attractants. 2. Bears are going through hyperphagia right now. It's not uncommon to see an increase in bears around this time. 3. The most effective method so far for deterring bears is bear-proof trash cans…
Aymee Laurain
FOLLOW THE LAW
I would expect an elected official to follow the law, especially one that was passed by his regime recently, and that is to use closed bear preventive trashcans. What is wrong with this picture? He leaves food in an open garage…?
Madeleine Doran
STOP BEING SELFISH
No bear hunt! That is sickening. Commissioner Cole, you are an example of part of the problem. Irresponsibility — leaving your garage open with the smell of food. Humans have created this problem and the animals suffer through lack of natural food and loss of their lives. Mother bears feed and protect their young just like human mothers. There are better solutions for bear management, so stop being selfish.
Lynn Farmer Arnold
STOP SPREADING LIES
What person moves into bear country and leaves bear food attractants like dog food in an open garage? Grow up and stop being a baby, commissioner! Store your food in your house and close your garage door. … Stop … spreading … lies about our bears. We don’t need another massacre of our wildlife because you are too lazy and just want to round up the good ole boys and save the day!
Kim Norton
STOP BLAMING BEARS
Do we kill dogs for getting into things they shouldn't — or do we acknowledge that we left out something they couldn't decipher as being an inappropriate thing to chew or eat?
Stop blaming bears for encounters when humans are the "more intelligent" species that can't seem to manage not leaving out trash for bears to get into, cutting down and burning their food sources, and bulldozing their homes so we can further over-develop our lands.
The problem is not bears; it's humans that have no consideration for any other being beside themselves. Take some … responsibility for your actions; it saves more than just your life.
Michelle Zavitz
We welcome Santa Rosa County residents’ comments on local issues.
Call 623-5887 to “Speak Out," share your thoughts on www.srpressgazette.com or our Facebook page, and your comment could appear in the print edition and on srpgressgazette.com.
Say what’s on your mind, but please be civil.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: SPEAK OUT: Readers question Santa Rosa commissioner's bear remarks