Residents in a Tampa neighborhood were not expecting such an unusual visit at dawn this Saturday: a black bear roaming freely through an apartment complex on Tampa Shores Boulevard, and then went to another neighborhood in Town ‘n’ Country, in the same Hillsborough County, where he remained perched in a tree while authorities looked for a way to catch him.
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office reported The black bear was first seen running through a residential complex in Tampa before officers responded to the scene early Saturday morning.
However, the animal headed to a neighborhood in Town ‘n’ Country, where it climbed a tree and remained there for the rest of the day, yawning and looking at the people who were watching it.
The trappers placed muffins and other pastries in a cage to lure him in and capture him alive, but the bear was not fooled.
According to reports from Press mediathe Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) confirmed in a statement at 10 p.m. Saturday that the bear left the tree for a time in the afternoon, but subsequently returned and climbed a different tree.
Finally, he came down again this Sunday morning and, avoiding the traps that had been set for him, continued on his way in an unknown direction.
The FWC indicated that its personnel have set several traps to relocate it to a safer location, probably the Ocala National Forest.
“Our bear biologists are monitoring the situation,” the institution stated. “It is best to allow bears to move on their own. However, due to this bear’s difficulty finding its way, FWC personnel have set traps to help relocate it safely.”
Experts explained that black bears normally become active in the spring, and the youngest ones search for territory, said a report from WFLA.
During this time, people are advised not to feed the bears and secure any food sources to keep them away from human populations.
The FWC warned residents that if they see the bear, they should avoid it and call the Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922). Likewise, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office asked the public to remain alert and report any sightings to 813-247-8200.
In Florida, the presence of bears in residential areas has been reported in the recent past.
In mid-July 2023, Homestead authorities used donuts to lure and trap a black bear that for more than 24 hours he was wandering through a neighborhood of that city, in Miami-Dade, where the population was afraid.
Another of these mammals stole an Uber Eats order from the porch of a home in Longwood, Orlandomoments after the driver delivered it.
An adult specimen spent the night at the entrance of a house in Naplesand his peaceful and carefree nap was captured by the owners’ security cameras.
