ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – State wildlife officers are searching for an injured black bear that has been spotted in an Altamonte Springs area, near the Little Wekiva River.
Pictures and a video of the bear are being shared on social media, along with comments noting that the animal was recently seen near Little Wekiva Road and Willowwood Avenue.
Katrina Shadix, the executive director of Bear Warriors United, shared an update on Facebook that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) will be attempting to trap the animal and medically assess it.
At this point, it’s unclear how the bear was injured.
Our News 6 team saw flyers posted on doors in the neighborhood that were left by Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, warning people about the injured animal and asking them to give them a call if they spot it.
News 6 reached out to the FWC on Friday and received the following statement:
FWC’s Bear Management Program staff are aware of this report and will assess further once the bear is located. I just spoke with staff, and we don’t have any updates beyond that we are still looking for the bear and are consulting with our veterinary staff on the injuries seen in the photos. We ask that people, including members of the media, give this and any bear space. If people spot an injured bear, we ask that they report it to our Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission
Our News 6 team canvassed the area Friday and spoke to neighbors who had either seen or heard about the animal.
Jerome Ragusa, who lives near where the bear was recently spotted, said there have been occasional black bear sightings in the area as long as he’s lived there.
“It’s part of life here. They follow the Little Wekiva [River] up,” said Ragusa.
Our crew showed Ragusa a video of the bear that was shared with us and FWC. He said it looks like the animal’s front left leg is wounded.
“Looking a little lean too,” said Ragusa. “I hope they’re able to catch him.”
A spokesperson with FWC also shared some additional information about black bear activity during the spring season. You can read it below:
During this time of year, bears are more active, with spring marking a return to activity for bears after limited movements in winter. If you see a bear, give it space, don’t try to approach it, and never feed it.
Seeing a bear in a neighborhood is not necessarily cause for alarm. However, it is important that residents secure food attractants so that bears do not linger in the area. If a bear is not able to find food and is given space, it will move on. Feeding bears can make them lose their natural fear of people.
The Altamonte Springs bear sighting comes just days after a bear was spotted in a tree near Markham Woods Middle School in Longwood.
Spring tends to be the time when bears become more active. To learn more about bears and how to avoid conflicts with them, visit MyFWC.com/Bear and BearWise.org.
Please contact the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) if you feel threatened by a bear; observe a sick, injured, dead, or orphaned bear; or report someone who is either harming bears or intentionally feeding them.
Having conflicts with bears? Call the FWC regional offices closest to you.
