DELAND, Fla. — When Jack Lee went out behind his DeLand home Sunday to do some yard work, he didn’t expect to see a black bear sleeping in a tree whose branches lay over his porch.
“It was my first time seeing a bear,” said Lee.
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The bear drew a crowd of neighbors who gawked at it and took pictures, Lee said. The bear has kept to itself in the tree, Lee said, and neighbors said it hasn’t bothered them.
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Because the bear has kept to itself, Lee said he’s not too concerned about its close proximity, but recognizes that some danger exists.
“You always worry about kids and pets when there’s a bear around the neighborhood,” he said.
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Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission officials said whenever anyone encounters a bear, they should just leave it alone and give it space.
Officials said bears are on the move because of the change in weather and they're looking for food.
Watch: Black bear sleeps in tree in DeLand backyard