Range Extent:
20,000-2,500,000 square km (about 8000-1,000,000 square miles)
Range Extent Comments:
Historical range was mainly in Florida but extended into coastal plain areas of Georgia, Alabama, and extreme southeastern Mississippi. In Florida this species is widely distributed, occupying about 45% of its historical range. Concentrations occur in the Apalachicola basin, Osceola NF and adjacent Pinhook Swamp, Gulf Hammock, Ocala NF, St. Johns River basin, and Big Cypress region. The range extends into the areas within and around the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in southern Georgia and into southwest Alabama.
Area of Occupancy:
2,501-12,500 4-km2 grid cells
Area of Occupancy Comments:
AOO roughly estimated using GeoCat (http://geocat.kew.org).
Estimated Number of Element Occurrences:
6 - 20
Estimated Number of Element Occurrences Comments:
In Florida, approximately 10 populations, with two to four very secure (Osceola and Apalachicola National Forests, followed by Big Cypress National Preserve and Ocala National Forest).
Number of Occurrences with Good Viability/Integrity:
Few (4-12)
Global Protection:
Several (4-12) occurrences appropriately protected and managed
Global Protection Comments:
In Florida, occurs in a large number of Managed Areas statewide. A managed hunt was allowed in 2015.
Threat Comments:
Habitat loss and fragmentation are major threats in the historical range, but not for the four major remaining populations. Much habitat has been and is being lost to expanding urbanization, agricultural development, and increasing recreational use of wildlands (Maehr and Wooding 1992). Small Alabama population in shrinking habitat shows signs of excessive inbreeding and could be extirpated in the near future (USFWS 1998). Hunting has been eliminated as a significant threat (USFWS 1998); now restricted to the five counties surrounding the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia. Illegal persecution by beekeepers, poachers, timbermen, farmers, etc., may be a problem in some areas. Highway mortality has been significant (250 bears were killed on Florida highways from 1976 to 1991), particularly in the Florida peninsula. However, USFWS (1998) concluded that illegal killing and highway mortality currently are not significant threats, though the bear is sensitive to excessive mortality due to its low reproductive rate (Maehr and Wooding 1992).
Long-term Trend:
Relatively Stable (<=10% change)
Long-term Trend Comments:
Population has rebounded from an estimated population size of 300 bears in 1974 (Brian Scheick, pers. comm., 2004).
Short-term Trend:
Increase of 10-25%
Short-term Trend Comments:
In Florida the population declined at least 50% from 1960 to the 1990s, but more recently the population has increased. In the two hunted populations, there was no indication of a decline throughout the 1980's despite a mean harvest of 46 per year. However, there was concern of overharvest for 1990, and the state has altered regulations accordingly. A managed hunt of the populations in the Apalachicola and Ocala National Forests was conducted in 2015. In the recent past, highway mortality has exceeded legal take in Florida.
Global Abundance:
2500 - 10,000 individuals
Global Abundance Comments:
In Florida, current population estimate (2018) is over 4,000 bears.
In Alabama, about 377 sq km support an estomated population of less than 50 bears; bears also may occur occasionally on an additional 6,641 sq km of adjacent lands but not as a resident breeding population (USFWS 1998).
Fragility:
Moderately vulnerable
Environmental Specificity:
Broad. Generalist or community with all key requirements common.