Black bear caught in downtown Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. — A young black bear was making his way into downtown Orlando before he was finally caught by wildlife officers.

Sunday afternoon Florida Fish and Wildlife officials were able to tranquilize the black bear in the Parramore neighborhood.

Fish and Wildlife had been getting complaints about the bear from residents in the Turkey Lake area to Parramore since Friday.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologist David Turner said it's usually best to wait for bears to leave backyards on their own. But with so many residents around Sunday, wildlife officers thought it was best to tranquilize the bear and take it to the Ocala National Forest.

Experts said sightings are not uncommon because this is when female bears separate from their young.

"Probably dispersed from the forest looking for some new territory. And once he gets into the city, especially the downtown area, it is hard for him to navigate out. And after the last day and a half he's been pushing through into the city,” said Mike Orlando, of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.

Biologists estimated that the American black bear was two to three years old and weighed about 250 pounds.

They said the bear will now be taken to the Ocala National Forest, where it will be released.

WFTV