APOPKA, Fla. — A bear has been making itself at home in an Apopka neighborhood by creeping into backyards and crawling through fences.
A resident said he’s seen the bear in his yard nine times.
Nicolas Scurrah said the bear has broken his fence repeatedly, and he hopes wildlife officials act fast.
“I don’t mind him coming through the yard, except for the damage he causes. In my mind, makes him a nuisance to me,” said Scurrah.
He said he saw the bear Monday night and worries about his wife and son.
“My wife was out running, and had she now known there was a bear, there could have been a potential bad situation,” he said.
Florida Fish and Wildlife officers said they sent someone out to the neighborhood about a block away on Sweet Aire Court.
The first thing they noticed is that neighbors were leaving their trash cans outside and not storing them in their garages.
Officers said that just because a bear is damaging fences doesn’t mean they’ll trap or put it down.
Each situation is evaluated on location and the bear’s behavior.
An FWC spokesperson added that they’ll work with residents to look at more long-term solutions, like adding deterrent devices like an electric fence or a ScareCrow, which is a motion-activated device that shoots water.