Meet the Florida black bear, one of Northwest Florida’s wildest neighbors.
Welcome to the Macaroni KID Panama City Learning Corner!
Each week, we’ll learn something new together — from Northwest Florida wildlife and weather to local history, science, nature and more. We’ll keep it fun, family-friendly and include simple activities and printables whenever we can.
And for our very first Learning Corner, we’re starting with a question that might surprise a few local kids…
Wait....Bears Live Here?!
When most kids think about bears, they picture huge animals living somewhere far away in the mountains or deep inside a national park.
But here’s the fun part:
Yes — we really do have bears here in Northwest Florida!
The Florida black bear is one of the coolest wild animals that calls our state home. While you probably won’t see one wandering around every day, black bears do live throughout parts of Florida, including areas of the Panhandle.
That means bears aren’t just something our Northwest Florida kids have to read about in books. They’re actually one of our wild neighbors!
So, What Do Florida Black Bears Do All Day?
Florida black bears are generally shy animals and usually prefer avoiding people. They spend much of their time in forests and wooded areas searching for food, resting and exploring their territory.
And despite what cartoons may have taught us, bears aren’t sitting around waiting for picnic baskets.
Their diet can include things like berries, acorns, plants and insects, along with other foods they find naturally in the wild.
They’re also surprisingly good climbers!
Young black bears, called cubs, can climb trees quickly, especially when they feel threatened or need somewhere safe to go.
Did You Know?
- Florida black bears are the only bear species that naturally lives in Florida.
- Baby bears are called cubs.
- Black bears have an incredible sense of smell.
- They are excellent climbers.
- A black bear track has five toes.
- Despite their size, black bears generally prefer to avoid people.
Who Made THAT Track?
One really fun way to learn about wildlife is by looking for the clues animals leave behind.
Tracks can tell us that an animal passed through an area even if we never actually saw it.
Black bear tracks have five toes and a broad paw pad, which makes them look very different from something like a deer hoof.
That brings us to this week’s Learning Corner challenge!
Can your kids look at our three mystery tracks and figure out which one belongs to the Florida black bear?
No peeking at the answer first!
What Should You Do If You See a Bear?
This is an important one for kids to know.
If you ever see a bear in the wild, do not approach it.
Stay calm, give the bear plenty of space and tell an adult. Bears are wild animals, and the best way to appreciate them is from a safe distance.
We can think they’re amazing without trying to make friends with them!
Printable Learning Fun
We didn’t want to stop with just reading about our Northwest Florida neighbor.
This week’s Macaroni KID Panama City Learning Corner includes:
Florida Black Bear Coloring Page
Color our Florida black bear and its Northwest Florida habitat.
Which Track Is the Bear Track?
Three animals left their footprints behind — but only one belongs to a black bear. Can your child spot it?
Florida Black Bear Word Search
Search for bear-themed words like CUB, PAW, FOREST, BERRIES, ACORNS and more.
Learning about the animals living right here in our own backyard makes exploring Northwest Florida just a little more exciting.
The next time your family is walking a trail, exploring a park or driving through a wooded area, you might find yourself wondering…
What wild neighbor is out there that we haven’t learned about yet?
Stay tuned for another Macaroni KID Panama City Learning Corner next week!
Happy learning, little explorers!
