The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has less money on hand this year to aid in bear-proofing homes.
The money from FWC helps people buy items such as bear resistant trash cans along with other items to keep items secure that attract bears to local communities.
Over the last couple of weeks, numerous bear sightings have been reported to Action News Jax all around the Jacksonville area including one this weekend in St. Johns County.
THIS BLACK BEAR WAS SPOTTED OVER THE WEEKEND IN SJC NEAR 95 AND S.R. 16. WE'RE LOOKING INTO WHY LESS BEAR-PROOFING FUNDING IS AVAILABLE pic.twitter.com/igSLjstSnL
— Cole Heath (@ColeHeathMSP) July 24, 2017
While the state is offering money in helping to bear-proof homes, it is about $300,000 less than last year.
FWC HAS ABOUT $300K LESS THAN LAST YEAR FOR BEAR-PROOFING. WE’VE LEARNED F-W-C HAS ABOUT $515K TO MATCH LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING. pic.twitter.com/ey7cZ1ixX2
— Cole Heath (@ColeHeathMSP) July 24, 2017
This year FWC has only about $515,000 to match local government funding.
This year the funding will go mostly to cities and counties that pass ordinances requiring people to keep garbage cans secure from bears, something fast-growing St. Johns County has not passed.
THAT MONEY HELPS PEOPLE BUY BEAR RESISTANT TRASH CANS AND HARDWARE TO SECURE REGULAR GARBAGE CANS AND DUMPSTERS pic.twitter.com/k5r7vUk7SV
— Cole Heath (@ColeHeathMSP) July 24, 2017
THIS YEAR WE KNOW THE FUNDING WILL GO MOSTLY TO CITIES/COUNTIES THAT PASS ORDINANCES REQUIRING PEOPLE TO KEEP GARBAGE CANS SECURE FROM BEARS pic.twitter.com/ZQIjDQM6IE
— Cole Heath (@ColeHeathMSP) July 24, 2017
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