Bears occur throughout the Florida panhandle, including the City of Mary Esther. Many residents may not be aware that bears live nearby until a bear is attracted to a human-related food source such as a trash cart or bird feeder. If that occurs, an on-going problem can be prevented by promptly securing trash carts and removing bird feeders and other potential foods that may attract the bear.
Storing your trash cart in a garage or secure outbuilding is ideal for preventing access by bears. If there is not a secure location to store your cart, it can be modified to resist bears. The City Maintenance Department installs bear-resistant clasps free of charge. If you are interested, please contact City Hall at 850-243-3566.