OCOEE, Fla. — Residents in an Ocoee neighborhood are keeping a close eye on their surroundings after black bears were spotted roaming through the community.
Residents in Arden Park say they have seen one, and possibly two, bears moving through the heavily residential neighborhood, including near a community park.
The sightings have some neighbors concerned, particularly because the bears are moving through areas where children and families regularly spend time.
“I mean, there’s two more. There’s one of them in the park,” one resident said.
Florida black bears are increasingly being seen in areas where people live as development continues to expand into their natural habitat. Bears are also attracted to easily accessible food sources, including unsecured garbage, pet food, and bird feeders.
But despite residents’ concerns, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says it generally does not respond by trapping and relocating bears simply because they are seen in a neighborhood.
FWC encourages residents to remove or secure anything that could attract a bear and to give bears plenty of space.
The agency’s approach is based in part on the fact that most bears are simply passing through neighborhoods in search of food.
FWC may take action when a bear poses an immediate threat to public safety or has become habituated to people and is repeatedly displaying dangerous behavior.
For residents in Arden Park, however, the sightings are enough to prompt extra caution.
Neighbors are being encouraged to avoid approaching or feeding the bears, keep pets inside when bears are nearby, and secure trash and other potential food sources.
Experts say seeing a bear does not necessarily mean it is aggressive. In most cases, bears will try to avoid people.
But residents say the sheer size of the animals — and the fact that they are showing up in a neighborhood park — has made the sightings unsettling.
If you encounter a bear, FWC recommends keeping your distance and allowing it an escape route. Residents should never corner, approach, or attempt to feed a bear.
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