LAKE MARY, Fla. – The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating after they say a woman was attacked by a bear in a Seminole County neighborhood Saturday night.
Seminole County firefighters said they were called to a home on Brackenhurst Place in Lake Mary for a report of a woman, identified as Terri Franna, was attacked by a bear around 8 p.m. Saturday.
Deputies told CNN Sunday the bears had ambled into Franna's open garage and were sifting through her garbage cans in search of food. Franna said as many as five bears "of various sizes" were rooting through her trash when she walked into the garage.
FWC said they are looking for a 200-pound male that attacked Franna.
Wildlife officer Lt. Jeff Hudson said Franna encountered the bear in the Carisbrooke subdivision, which backs up to the Wekiva Wildlife preserve.
The victim was taken to South Seminole Hospital where she was treated for scratches on her head and released Sunday morning.
FWC said they are still looking for the bear.
FWC is reminding the public to be aware that bears are now or soon will be on the move as they are leaving their winter dens.
The FWC has positioned several traps in the area and is reaching out to residents of this neighborhood to discuss actions they can take to avoid encounters with bears.
"Now is the time to expect bears to show up looking for food," said Dave Telesco, who directs the FWC's bear management program. "If they can't find food in your neighborhood, they'll move on."
On Saturday, Fish and Wildlife officials issued a statement about bears coming out of the woods looking for food in neighborhoods.
Officials said as females and cubs increase their movements this time of year, they also increase the number of roads they cross.