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FWC: Mama black bear shot, killed in Sanford
A mother Black bear was shot and killed on Friday after it was seen walking with her cubs in a Sanford neighborhood, the FWC confirmed. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission said the bear was humanely euthanized after it was found with grave injuries. The bear's two cubs appear to be old enough to forage for their own food, though the FWC is looking for those cubs. Neighbors said a man shot the bear, which are protected in Florida, to protect his dog. Surveillance video captured what is believed to be gunshots; FOX 35 counted 16 shots in total.
SANFORD, Fla. - A Florida black bear known to walk around a neighborhood in Sanford with her two young cubs was shot and killed over the weekend, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
A spokesperson for FWC said the mother bear was ultimately euthanized due to the severity of the injuries she sustained in the shooting. Her cubs, however, do not appear to have been hurt and are old enough to forage for food on their own.
Neighbors told FOX 35 that a homeowner reportedly shot the bear in order to protect a dog, though the FWC was unable to confirm that. FOX 35 was unable to reach the homeowner who allegedly shot the bear.
The FWC said late Monday that no charges or fines have been levied at this time.
The shooting happened Friday night. Surveillance video obtained by FOX 35 appeared to capture the constant sound of gunshots early Friday in the neighborhood. FOX 35 counted what appeared to be 16 gunshots in the video.
Still, neighbors said the mama bear and her cubs were known to walk around the neighborhood.
Lauren Pierce said her dad loved watching the bars from his window.
"He has videos of them with her cubs and it’s just very heartbreaking and I’m sad to hear about it," she said.
Pierce said she saw the cubs on Sunday.
In an update on Wednesday, a FWC spokesperson, told FOX 35 that its bear management staff found the two bear cubs safe and captured them. They were brought to Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, which is about 90 minutes west of downtown Orlando, where they'll be rehabilitated.
The FWC spokesperson said the bears are expected to be released back into the wild in December.
Can you kill a black bear in Florida?
In Florida, black bears are protected and it's illegal to kill one without an FWC-issued hunting permit, a spokesperson told FOX 35. The only exception is in order to protect human life.
Monika Turner, who works with Save the Florida Black Bear, a nonprofit organization, said residents need to be aware that black bears are prevalent in Central Florida and to not leave garbage, bird feeders, and other attractants outside. Pet owners also need to be cautious about their pets being outdoors.
"Do your part to live in harmony with these animals," said Turner. "If you have dogs, don’t let your dogs chase and bark at the bears. Right now, a lot of these bears have their cubs."
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When Florida Attacks: How to live with bears
FOX 35 talks with Mike Orlando, the lead bear program manager with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, about bears in Central Florida. How many are there? Where do they go? Why do we see them in backyards? And do bears attack, and why?
It is similar sentiments echoed by Mike Orlando, the lead bear program manager with the FWC. He recently spoke with FOX 35 about Black bears in Florida, their livelihoods and habitats, and how humans can safely live with them.
He said there was about 4,000 to 4,500 black bears in Florida, as of the 2015 count, which is expected to be higher now. The next count will not be completed until 2025.
However, he said right now, bears are often moving around in search of food, especially cubs who are beginning to leave their mother's range and explore on their own.
He said seeing a bear is not reason for instant alarm, but said it's important for homeowners to remove food and other items that will attract bears, such as pet food, garbage, leftover food, bird seed, and cat litter.
"They are here so I try to be aware and be mindful of the dogs," said Pierce. "Try to give them respect because we’re building up every inch of Seminole County and that’s where they lived and now, they have no place to go."
Editor's note: This story was updated with new information from the FWC.