CLERMONT, Fla.,None — A Clermont family had an unexpected guest show up right before Thanksgiving: a 400-pound bear!
The family said the bear camped out for days in their neighborhood off Montgomery Boulevard. Bears are common in Central Florida, but they are rarely spotted in Clermont.
Clermont resident Bibi Alli said she does not like bears, but a neighbor took video of one in her backyard.
"I am from New York. I don't see bear, I don't want to know bear," Alli said, and laughed.
Chris Singh is Alli's neighbor. He took video with her camera as the bear played and stretched in a tree.
"And he just walked up this tree as if it was like a step," Singh said. "As I would get closer to him he would give a growl, like 'grrr.' That is when I backed up a couple of feet to give him his space."
Wildlife officials said bear attacks are very rare. When they do happen they are usually provoked by people.
Singh was only about 20 feet away from the bear when he started taking pictures, and by the time he was done, he had a crowd of about 40 people watching.
"They were looking in awe like it was some attraction here," Alli said.
Neighbor Nelson Escudero was equally in awe. He said the bear went through his garbage and then tore through his fence.
In 2010, more than 4,000 people reported bear sightings across Florida. But WFTV found out there have only been two sightings in Clermont.
Wildlife officials said they believe the bear may have come from Eustis or Tavares looking for food or a new home, but that he will most likely not stay long, which is just fine with Alli.
"I am so scared still because I know he still may be around," Alli said.
State officials are considering taking black bears off the threatened species list because their numbers are growing.
There are about 3,000 black bears, living in the state from the panhandle to southwest Florida.
Seminole County has had more than 250 nuisance bear complaints just in 2011.
WFTV
