Why Support Us?
You Believe in Our Mission
We need your help to accomplish our mission: to enhance, encourage, and promote the preservation and protection of the outstanding natural, ecological, cultural, and historic resources of the Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway for its residents, wildlife, visitors, and future generations.
National Recognition
If you call the Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway home, you can take pride in the fact that it’s one of a select few byways in Florida designated at the National level! This recognition is a testament to the unique and valuable nature of our byway. Our organization plays a vital role in balancing tourism, history, and natural beauty with the protection of our precious resources.
Our byway region features:
- Several diverse, world-class springs that attract diving and paddling tourists from around the globe each year
- Two of the most remarkable Old Florida historical sites in Florida, the Barberville Pioneer Settlement and the Silver River Museum
- The highest concentration of Florida Black Bears in the state
- Key segments of the Florida Trail
- Incredible historical and literary connections throughout a rural landscape, including Teddy Roosevelt, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Marjorie Harris Carr, and William Bartram
Make your voice heard and feel the impact of joining as a volunteer or contributing as a donor or partner! This organization has had a hand in keeping beloved sites along the corridor beautiful.
You Have Seen Our Impact
What started in 2008 with a statewide designation earned from the trailblazing crew quickly snowballed into a Nationally designated byway in 2009. Since then, some of our key achievements are:
- Comprehensive Master Plan, with many items implemented
- Public outreach at numerous historical, environmental, and cultural events throughout the byway corridor and statewide
- Ongoing advocacy for Black Bears, particularly with FDOT projects
- Input and support of pedestrian and cyclist projects with FDOT
- Developed an identity, web, and social media presence since 2012
- Numerous planting, beautification, and clean-up projects on the corridor
- Installed many interpretive kiosks and panels on the corridor since 2011 (some updated as recently as 2024)
- Produced an overall video on DVD, which is still sold as of 2024
- Provide educational awareness for visitors, including a Bear Facts brochure
- Quarterly Newsletter about byway stories and projects
Bear & Wildlife Advocacy
Our byway organization puts a strong focus on Florida black bear advocacy. The Florida black bear is an umbrella species, and things that benefit them also help much of the wildlife thriving in the Ocala National Forest.
Since the beginning, many of this byway’s key members have had careers and passions centered on environmental science, forestry, and historic preservation. As a result, this byway has significantly impacted wildlife defense in the corridor.
Despite these efforts, the Florida black bear is still killed more often by vehicles on this byway than anywhere else in the state.
As of 2024, FBBSB members have coordinated with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 5 on design and PD&E Projects to provide input on wildlife considerations such as signage, crossings, and pond sites. FDOT D5 coordinated with FBBSB members for the $8 million safety project that traverses SR 40 through the byway and could involve wildlife crossing signage, kiosks with safety information, and a roadside wildlife detection system.
The project aims to decrease vehicle-wildlife interactions to save both humans and wildlife, especially the Florida black bear.
FBBSB is a Nonprofit Organization
Gifts to the Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway are tax deductible. As a 501c3 nonprofit organization, any profits received must go back into the organization to further its mission. Contributions made to FBBSB are used to develop the byway by:
- Creating signage, interpretive kiosks, promotional materials like hats or bags, banners and displays
- Maintaining updates to the website & social media presence
- Supporting participation in cultural and historical events, historical preservation efforts, FDOT projects
- Developing tours, programs, and educational materials
- Implementing special projects, like plantings, gardens, tours & clean-ups
The photo shows the Ocala National Forest Fire Tower, which our organization is working to preserve as a historic landmark.