Black bear, cubs spotted in same Seminole Co. neighborhood where woman was attacked

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Frightened residents in the same Seminole County neighborhood where a woman was mauled by a black bear said the bears are back.

A resident called Florida Fish and Wildlife officials in the Lake Mary neighborhood as soon as they saw the bears were roaming their neighborhood again.

They fear the bears are just too comfortable and not afraid of humans.

“They told us they thought she would move on, but she’s still here,” said resident Tami Compton.

Residents said it’s like clockwork. Around dinnertime, a mother bear and her baby cubs traipse through their yards looking for food.

Compton said she’s been calling wildlife officials for several weeks to come out.

This week, she said her husband caught the momma bear going through her trash.

“We got a whistle since the attack and he was blowing it and she just looked at it like, ‘OK, I still want your trash,’” Compton said.

The Carisbroke neighborhood is the same place where Terri Franna was attacked by a bear earlier this year.

In the days after, officials caught and put down one bear after another who they said were uncomfortable with humans.

Eventually, three residents were charged for illegally feeding the animals.

Compton said she doesn’t want the bears put down, but relocated instead.

“It’s scary because you don’t know when she’s coming out what she’s going to do,” Compton said.

WFTV