Search Continues For Bear Spotted At Orlando's Hard Rock Hotel
Wednesday, May 28, 2008 – updated: 1:08 pm EDT May 28, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Florida Fish and Wildlife officers were still searching Wednesday afternoon for a young bear spotted outside the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando (see map). A security guard first spotted the bear roaming around the property Wednesday morning.
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Officers believe the young black bear is hiding out or sleeping in a wooded area on the Hard Rock Hotel property. Florida Fish and Wildlife is asking anyone who sees the bear to stay away and they're begging people not to go out looking for him."We hope the bear will go out the same way it came in," said Mike Orlando, a biologist with the FWC's bear management program. "We are monitoring the situation and need the help of everyone in the vicinity."Jim and Susan Owens woke up around 5:00am to walk their dog around the hotel when they found out there was a bear lurking around."They didn't make a formal announcement. We just walked along, the security guy said, 'You can't go anywhere, there's a bear, you can't go any further,'" Jim Owens said.A hotel security guard first spotted the bear on a camera. At least one Orlando police officer also got a glimpse of the cub who could be around 100 pounds."I'm a little worried. I am a little worried," Susan Owens said.Florida Fish and Wildlife is baffled that the bear ended up on the property in such a busy area, but said it's not uncommon for male bears to wander away from the wild this time of year because their mothers kick them out to make room for more cubs."They start looking for their own home. Sometimes they get a little confused. Undoubtedly, this bear made a left turn on Albuquerque," said Lt. Jeff Hudson, Florida Fish and Wildlife.Florida Fish and Wildlife says the bear isn't dangerous. In fact, they said, he's probably scared because of all the commotion.Florida Fish and Wildlife plans to stay out at the scene most of the day and possibly through the night. They said, if the bear is still around sleeping or hiding, he may wander out into the open at night when it's quiet.
ANIMAL NEWS: Read More Stories About Animals In The NewsOfficers believe the young black bear is hiding out or sleeping in a wooded area on the Hard Rock Hotel property. Florida Fish and Wildlife is asking anyone who sees the bear to stay away and they're begging people not to go out looking for him."We hope the bear will go out the same way it came in," said Mike Orlando, a biologist with the FWC's bear management program. "We are monitoring the situation and need the help of everyone in the vicinity."Jim and Susan Owens woke up around 5:00am to walk their dog around the hotel when they found out there was a bear lurking around."They didn't make a formal announcement. We just walked along, the security guy said, 'You can't go anywhere, there's a bear, you can't go any further,'" Jim Owens said.A hotel security guard first spotted the bear on a camera. At least one Orlando police officer also got a glimpse of the cub who could be around 100 pounds."I'm a little worried. I am a little worried," Susan Owens said.Florida Fish and Wildlife is baffled that the bear ended up on the property in such a busy area, but said it's not uncommon for male bears to wander away from the wild this time of year because their mothers kick them out to make room for more cubs."They start looking for their own home. Sometimes they get a little confused. Undoubtedly, this bear made a left turn on Albuquerque," said Lt. Jeff Hudson, Florida Fish and Wildlife.Florida Fish and Wildlife says the bear isn't dangerous. In fact, they said, he's probably scared because of all the commotion.Florida Fish and Wildlife plans to stay out at the scene most of the day and possibly through the night. They said, if the bear is still around sleeping or hiding, he may wander out into the open at night when it's quiet.
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