OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. – “Are those grizzly bears!?”
An Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office deputy stumbled upon an unexpected scene in December; a couple of small bear cubs.
Recommended Videos
According to a post on social media, a man reported two bear cubs on Old River Road in Baker on Dec. 5, emphasizing that they looked different from the usual northwest Florida black bears.
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
“They want food! They’re clearly domesticated,” the man told the deputy in newly-released body camera video.
See the video below:
Investigators determined the bears were Kodiak cubs, a distinct subspecies of brown or grizzly bears. Fortunately, this pair displayed friendliness and seemed in good health.
The deputy was able to snap some pictures and sought assistance from Florida Fish and Wildlife to relocate the cubs to a secure facility while launching a thorough investigation into where they came from. Detectives uncovered an escape from substandard confinement at a residence not far away from the scene, where a self-proclaimed bear trainer resides, the sheriff’s office said.
According to the post, the resident now faces a range of Florida wildlife violations as a result of the FWC investigation. Deputies said the video documenting the incident was not shared until the investigation concluded.
According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, there are approximately 3,500 Kodiak bears, with a density of about 0.7 bears per square mile. These formidable creatures claim the title of the world’s largest bears, with a large male towering over 10′ tall on hind legs and weighing up to 1,500 pounds. Females are roughly 20% smaller and 30% lighter than their male counterparts.
Use the form below to sign up for the ClickOrlando.com Strange Florida newsletter, sent every Friday.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily:
