Varments in Magnolia

Saw a racoon on a recurring basis at the back door of my in-law's house in Ventana Dunes. It would show up every night between 9:00 and 10:00, would walk up on the back porch, and would look in the door at us for about 15 seconds before casually ambling off. The Ma-in-law said that their trash had been breached a few times recently. I'm sure we were looking at the guilty party!

This morning it appears there is something inspecting the garbage cans set out for pick up at the Cottages of Magnolia.
A few weeks ago we thought it was a Momma bear, feasting on Thanksgiving leftovers. Has anyone seen Momma or maybe it's one of her friends Mr. Racoon or Miss Opossum.
It would be nice to know for those folks that walk their dogs in the early morning or after dark.

I have friends that have reported all of the above as visitors. I now restrict trash to be set out for morning of pick-up only. I was getting tired of cleaning up...

My street's garbage cans got hit earlier in the week - definitely not bears though, probably raccoons.

Luckily someone decided to use my trash can to dispose of some dog poo, so between that and the giant bag o' recyclables on top they lost interest and messed w/ my neighbor's trash. 😀

We had renters last winter in our cottage at Magnolia, and on 2 separate occasions, they saw a bobcat roaming through the development. Meow.

We had renters last winter in our cottage at Magnolia, and on 2 separate occasions, they saw a bobcat roaming through the development. Meow.

Yes, I personally saw the bobcat as well, on Seacrest drive.
The wetlands area Magnolia/Clareon/Seacrest Drive is a perfect spot for all of these animals to hang out. I don't mind, except I really miss being able to have a garden!

You can still have a garden. Last summer Bambi only ate some of the sunflowers, and the raccoons left the veggies alone. I think they prefer garbage. :roll:

In Seagrove I was thinking raccoons had been in my garbage until I saw bears in my yard. Bears are all around with Pt. Washington state forest. Bears come in our neighbor hood every night with people seeing them. Fish and Game will do nothing because there are more bears to come behind. It worries me that bears are getting to socialised.

I you've read the post regarding the bear on the golf course at Camp Creek, you have to assume the bear is also in the Magnolia neighborhood. I don't believe there's anyway to keep them away, so walking your dogs in day light seems to be the safest. Everyone needs to remember to keep their distance and give the animals their space.
Lions and tigers and bears...Oh My!

No, you can keep bears away - by not ATTRACTING them.

Don't leave garbage out, don't fill your birdfeeders, don't leave food out, and clean up any fruit that falls from trees, and you remove any reason for bears to visit you.

Garbage is the #1 reason bears are visiting your neighborhood.

No, you can keep bears away - by not ATTRACTING them.

Don't leave garbage out, don't fill your birdfeeders, don't leave food out, and clean up any fruit that falls from trees, and you remove any reason for bears to visit you.

Garbage is the #1 reason bears are visiting your neighborhood.

Don't fill your birdfeeders? I guess that should be, don't have birdfeeders because what's the point of having them if they're empty? I'll never give up my birdfeeders. But i don't worry about bears, my yard is fenced in with a huge Rott standing guard 24/7. :wave:

I said 'don't fill them' because certain times of year are more of an issue - so if you really like the birds, you can still have birdfeeders.

Birdfeeders are minor attractions considering the massive garbage buffet in most Sowal neighborhoods.

I Thought about the wording after i posted... that maybe what you meant was ' don't FILL them to the top!' :lol: My birds get very little at a time due to the squirrels binging until it's gone. :roll:

What about those of us that run/hike on the Pt Washington State Forest Eastern lake Trails (during the non-hunting seasons of course)? If on a mountain bike, I could probably outrun a disturbed bear charging me, but I've hear they can go faster than an 8-10 mph running pace.

What about those of us that run/hike on the Pt Washington State Forest Eastern lake Trails

FWC - What do you do if you encounter a bear?

There has never been a recorded attack of a black bear on a person in Florida. I think people hear "bear" and freak out, thinking of grizzlies. Our bears are not grizzlies! Go ahead and enjoy your walks/runs.
Personally I worry more about meeting up with a wild pig in the forest. 😱

😱

I know the last time we stayed in Magnolia in October, something kept, making the outside security light come on during the night.

Probably raccoons.

FWC - What do you do if you encounter a bear?

There has never been a recorded attack of a black bear on a person in Florida. I think people hear "bear" and freak out, thinking of grizzlies. Our bears are not grizzlies! Go ahead and enjoy your walks/runs.
Personally I worry more about meeting up with a wild pig in the forest. 😱

Thanks for the link on bear encounter tips; my only concern is if I'm running along, minding my own business, and don't see the bear but the bear sees me "running away" and I have therefore violated one of the tips (about not "running away"). I won't have any food to offer or weapons to defend, just an iPod and some Nikes. The good thing is that an attack has never happened in FL, so the odds are probably on my side there. And I am more concerned about the wild hogs as well as rattle snakes.

I am more fearful of snakes than gators or bears. And I bet snakes are more plentiful on and around 30A than gators, bears and bobcats combined. All of nature's creatures have a place - I just want to stay out of their way!