SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Nine months after the worst bear attack in Florida history only one neighborhood has made changes to prevent attracting bears into residential areas, but a citizens group is hoping to change that.
Channel 9's Lori Brown found out why more neighborhoods could start establishing new rules, including the requirement of bear-proof trash cans that cost $140.
Because options like the trash cans exist in the effort to deter bears, an attorney is warning developers and homeowners associations that if they don't use them they could later be liable in the case of a bear attack.
A Seminole County woman in the Wingfield North neighborhood was mauled in what was described as the worst bear attack ever in the state of Florida.
A second attack was reported in another Seminole County neighborhood months later, but still, Wingfield North is the only community that has opted to adopt what they call "bear-wise rules."
Attorney Gary Kaleita, partner with the Lowndes Law Firm, lives in the neighborhood and helped draft the rules. He is now on a committee that is recommending the state start encouraging HOAs in bear-prone areas to adopt the rules.
"It helps the bears. It helps the residents," said Kaleita.
The bear-proof cans that Kaleita recommends aren't hard to open, but the bears haven't figured out how to get into them yet.
"We had a bear go through a series of streets, testing all of our trash cans and went back into the woods," said Kaleita.
Kaleita said the price of the trash cans are worth their weight in gold.
"How much are you going to pay for treatment if you're attacked by a bear?" he asked. "Where do you put the safety of your kids?"
The other rules ban residents from leaving food in their cars, keeping their garage open and leaving grills dirty.
Fines have also been created but none have been issued, said Kaleita.
Seminole County Commissioner Brenda Carey said before the county considers adopting any ordinances she'd like to see how the voluntary approach works first.
WFTV
