People who live in Mount Dora learned how to make their trash cans bear-resistant on Friday after a bear was shot and killed earlier in the week in a Lake County neighborhood.
- Bear shot and killed Monday in Tavares neighborhood
- FWC hosted workshop on how to bear-proof trash cans
- Trasn cans were retrofitted in 20 minutes for about $5
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission hosted the workshop at the Dora Pines Mobile Home Estates.
In about 20 minutes and for less than $5, trash cans were retrofitted with nylon straps and some plastic buckles.
Fish and Wildlife officials said there have been more than 380 bear complaint calls from Lake County so far this year, and 84 of them came from Mount Dora.
"These folks have car ports," said Alyssa Simmons, a bear biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "A lot of times, we ask folks to secure their garbage in garages, (but) they don't have that garage option. So by retrofitting their existing garbage cans with these latches, it's making it much more difficult for bears to get in and get that easy meal."
A bear was shot and killed Monday on Fairview Avenue in Tavares, which is a second-degree misdemeanor.
A group called The Bear Defending Coalition said it has raised an $800 reward for information leading to an arrest in the fatal bear shooting.