Chris Boyce, South Area Bear Biologist for Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, will be discussing the history of bears in the state, basic bear biology, how to keep attractants and bee yards safe from bears, and the role of FWC and public in bear management. 

Chris Boyce has been the south area bear biologist for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for four and a half years, and is responsible for bear management response in 22 of the state’s southern counties. He is headquartered in Naples, where the highest amount of human-bear conflict originates in Southwest Florida. Chris coordinates FWC response to sick or injured bears, provides field response and technical assistance to residents experiencing human-bear conflict, investigates livestock depredations and illegal killing of bears, and performs education and outreach for communities, outside agencies, and school groups. He has been in this position for just over four years, and prior to that, has worked with a variety of wildlife species in ten other states. Chris received his BS in conservation biology from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and his MS in Forest Resources from the University of Georgia.