March 27 Umatilla, Florida Black Bear Festival

Dear Andrew, Join Defenders at the 11th Annual Florida Black Bear Festival in Umatilla next Saturday, March 27th! As spring approaches and Florida black bear cubs begin to come out of their dens to explore their new world, I can't think of a better time to get outside and celebrate these amazing animals. Be a part of the celebration this year: RSVP now to let us know you're coming! What: 11th Annual Florida Black Bear Festival! (free and open to all) When: Saturday, March 27th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Where: Cadwell Park (4 Cassady Street) - Umatilla, FL Defenders organized the first Florida Black Bear Festival back in 1999 -- and it just gets bigger and better each time. There's something for everone this year, so you won't want to miss it! RSVP now to let us know we'll be seeing you at the Festival on March 27th. Festival Highlights Include: Field trips into the Ocala Forest led by bear experts and tours to Carr Cabin Live music and food and craft vendors Locally and nationally renowned authors A new "Bear Den" with movies and presentations about bears and how to avoid conflicts with them Defenders of Wildlife is sponsoring the Children's Pavilion to make learning about the Florida black bear FUN! So don't forget to stop by and say hello -- and join us for arts and crafts and games that are fun for the whole family.  Umatilla is just outside the Ocala National Forest, where most of our black bears live -- and many people in the area have been paid "special visits" by these curious creatures. Because people cause most of the conflicts between humans and bears, it's vital for Bear Country residents to learn more about what bears do, why they do it and what can be done to help them survive. I hope you'll come out and join us on Saturday, March 27th for a fun-filled day to celebrate the Florida black bear and learn more about how we cam help make the future a bit brighter for these rare bears. Don't forget to RSVP to let us know you're coming! We hope to see you there!   Elizabeth Fleming Laurie Macdonald Shannon Miller Fast Facts about the Florida black bear (Ursus americanus floridanus): This threatened subspecies of black bear is found in Florida, southern Georgia and southern Alabama. Because it's usually warm in Florida, many of our black bears do not hibernate, or only hibernate for a short time. Most females reproduce just once every two years. Florida black bears face several threats -- the most serious include habitat loss and fragmentation, logging, human encroachment, vehicle collisions and poaching. Defenders protects Florida black bears by working to preserve a connected system of wildlife habitat for them and educating people about how they can be better neighbors. Visit our website to learn more about our work.
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