Bears in Florida in November

Yes, November is one of the best months to see bears in Florida. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 166 of the 1,576 sightings logged across the year (10.5%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 2, 2026.

American Black Bear photographed in FloridaAmerican Black Bear photographed in FloridaAmerican Black Bear photographed in Florida
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for bears in Florida

10.5%

of yearly sightings

166

records in November

#3

busiest month of 12

1,576

verified records a year

October 11.7%, November 10.5%, December 10.4%. Busiest month is October at 11.7%.

Best months: October, June, November

1,576 verified observations of bears in Florida, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When bears are recorded in Florida

Peak month

October

184 records (11.7% of the year)

Quietest month

February

72 records

MonthObservationsShare
January1157.3%
February724.6%
March835.3%
April986.2%
May1539.7%
Junepeak17911.4%
July1247.9%
August976.2%
September1418.9%
Octoberpeak18411.7%
Novemberpeak16610.5%
December16410.4%

Bears you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
American Black Bear1,576

In Florida, November carries 10.5% of the year's bears sightings, about 2.2 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 3rd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is easing off from October (11.7%) into November, and it heads toward December (10.4%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so November is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The bears most often recorded in Florida are American Black Bear. Those counts are annual totals rather than a November split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in November itself.

Which bears you are most likely to see

  • American Black Bear1,576 records
Plan your tripBig Cypress National Preserve

Plan your bear trip in Florida

Start with live tours near Big Cypress National Preserve, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Gear to see them

Frequently asked questions

Can you see bears in Florida in November?+

Yes. November accounts for 166 of the 1,576 verified bears sightings logged in Florida across the year, which is 10.5% of the annual total.

Is November a good time to see bears in Florida?+

November is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of October, June and November.

What month is best for bears in Florida?+

October is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through October, June and November, based on 1,576 verified observations.

Which bears are you most likely to see in Florida?+

The most-recorded species in Florida are American Black Bear, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.