Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said there have been 13 bear sightings in Northeast Florida so far this year. Last year there were 22 the entire year.
Despite the increase in sightings, FWC has less money for bear proofing efforts. FWC has about $515,000 to match local government funding.
That money goes to bear resistant trash cans and hardware to secure garbage cans and dumpsters. That funding will primarily go to mostly cities and counties that pass ordinances that require people to keep garbage cans secure from bears.
We have reached to FWC to get more information on why the cuts took place.