As a resident of Heathrow, Florida I am outraged by the conduct of the Fish and Wildlife who killed five bears after a woman was attacked by a bear last weekend. We have been a resident of Heathrow for nine years and have had several bear encounters around our home. It has become a way of life when you live in their natural habitat. While we have become accustomed to their presence, the most important factor in maintaining safety for both the bears and the residents is to adhere closely to the rules of bear encounters and not provoke attraction to your home and the neighborhood.
I can not tell you how many times neighbors have left their trash out overnight, which attract bears, or feed feral cats on their front porches. There are also several neighbors that have feeders in their back yard that attract the bears to the area. It is their natural instinct to forage for food in order to survive, and we have built our homes in their natural habitat.
I have to wonder if a home was broken into by five males, would law enforcement shoot all five suspects before discovery and knowing if any of the men were involved in the crime. Wildlife deserve the same rights and this conduct by FWC is unacceptable.
Two years ago my daughter was walking to the bus stop in Cherry Ridge and came across a bear on her path. While she was terrified by the encounter, the bear was not aggressive and did not take chase or maul her any way. Black bears typically do not exhibit aggressive behavior unless they either have their young present or have been provoked.
As residents, we must be mindful of this beautiful environment we have been allowed to live in and we must always respect the nature around us. When one person or family breaks the rules they put everyone around them at risk.
I would like to request a full investigation into this matter and I am going to place this petition on full view for any other residents who would like to join in the fight to protect our wildlife and their rights. Certainly, FWC should not have the authority to be both judge and jury and have so little regard for life.
