400-Pound Black Bear Spotted In Neighborhood

A big black bear, weighing an estimated 400 pounds, is getting dangerously close to homes in Winter Garden. The black bear is so comfortable around people, Florida Fish and Wildlife officials are afraid it could become dangerous.

Officials now plan to set a trap in the neighborhood near the Fowler's Grove mall this weekend. The black bear was seen making himself comfortable in the Westfield subdivision in Winter Garden. The bear stretches out his legs and then crosses them.

IMAGES: Bear Relaxes In Back Yard

Judi Patti's backyard backs up to a conservation area and, for the past two weeks, the bear has been eating her plants and trees.

“He was playing and just relaxing. I think maybe he smelled some food cooking. He didn't even care we were out here,” Patti said.

That concerns Fish and Wildlife officers. They believe the bear is getting too comfortable around humans. He was spotted sitting in people's front yards near West Orange High School and, in one case, he tried to approach some people while they were in their swimming pool.

Parents say they are concerned.

“We have a lot of kids in the neighborhood and animals. People are really concerned about their kids playing and stuff like that,” Patti said.

A Fish and Wildlife spokesperson said bear sightings are up. Bears are generally on the move right now looking for food to stock up on for the winter months. The bears typically look through trash cans to see what they can find.

Fish and Wildlife said the bear should have moved on by now and, since this is a highly-populated area near Fowler's Grove. Officers plan to try to trap the bear and relocate him.

“He's been all over. We've seen him near the high school. He is defiantly getting roaming around,” parent Jeff Lutes said.

The Florida black bear is an endangered species, however there is a large population in Central Florida. One possible place officers would relocate the bear is the Ocala National Forest. Florida Fish and Wildlife has never seen a case where a Florida black bear has attacked a human.

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