ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A black bear seen running through neighborhoods off County Road 210 in St. Johns County on Tuesday and Julington Creek Plantation on Wednesday morning had crossed into southern Duval County on Wednesday night.
Jacksonville police received reports of the bear being seen on South Julington Forest Drive about 5:30 p.m. After nightfall, after the bear climbed a tree in the front yard of a home on Ridgemore Lane officers with rifles and shotguns surrounded the bear, but Florida wildlife officers said the animal was not a threat and didn't want the bear harmed.
What was believed to be the same bear was seen Tuesday morning in the South Hampton Golf and Country Club and the Johns Creek neighborhoods off State Road 210.
The bear that was spotted at around 9 a.m. Wednesday in Julington Creek. It was seen near various locations on Garrison Drive at about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said they have received a lot of calls from residents reporting the bear in the last two days.
"Although it is not a common sight to see a bear running through these communities in north St. Johns County, in some parts of Florida, the greater Orlando area for example, it is not unusual at all," a news release reads. "They can become a nuisance if they hang around, but are generally not a danger to humans if people take a few precautions and discourage them from settling down in the neighborhood."
Elizabeth and Steve Bielicki shot video of a bear ripping through the screened-in porch of their Julington Creek home Wednesday morning.
"I was out working and heard this loud crash into one of our doors and got up to see what commotion was about and there was this 300 pound bear walking around my pool area," Steve Bielicki said. "He kind of walked around, hit a few spots. You can see paw marks on some of my cage spots. He actually jumped across my pool, got on top of my sand box and dug a big hole out and got out."
Black bear youTube video
Officials said they will not trap or tranquilize a bear unless it or people are in a dangerous situation, or the circumstances are such that the bear will have a difficult time getting out.
Officials said a few weeks ago there was a young male bear that ended up in downtown Orlando, a block from the Amway Center where the Orlando Magic basketball team plays. In that situation because of where it was located, and the fact that it was hunkered down in a yard, they were able to safely tranquilize and move the bear out of there.
Bears in neighborhoods surrounded by bear habitat, such as in this case, are better left alone because experience has shown that they will move along on their own, officials said. They said in the meantime, it will probably pass through many populated areas, but eventually it will find an appropriate place to live.
Officials said it is very important that residents of the surrounding communities not leave any garbage, bird seed, pet food or anything anywhere the bear can get to it, including screened-in porches, open garages, carports, the yard, the sidewalk, garbage cans, etc.
"They are lazy and like to take the path of least resistance; if they find an easy food source they will be reluctant to leave," the news release reads.
Officials said this bear is likely a young male bear, maybe a year and a half old, that is leaving its birth range. Its mother has pushed him out because later this summer she will likely breed again, officials said. They said the bear is probably scared and confused because it's the first time it's been on its own.
Wild black bears are not generally a threat to humans in the way most people imagine they are, officials said. They are very afraid of people and will avoid being around them if possible, officials said.
People should stay away from the bear and not encourage it to linger in the neighborhood. Don't corner the bear or in any way block it. They should also not chase it or try to corral it. The best thing to do is let the bear make its way out of the populated areas.
"It got in there and can find its way out; the less human interference the better," the news release reads.
Officials said at some point the bear may climb up a tree. Often this happens when it is scared by a dog, or for whatever reason it is frightened, they said. Bears feel safe in trees and will often stay put until nightfall when things quiet down, officials said.
If the bear goes into a tree, people should leave it alone. Keep barking dogs away and discourage crowds from gathering. That will only make it stay in the tree longer, and the goal is for it to move along and find a suitable, heavily wooded place to live, officials said.
A few other sightings people have called about are near the first hole of the Champions Club Golf Course, which is part of The Players Club; Elmwood Drive on the north side of Race Track Road from the Julington Creek Elementary School; Willow Oak Drive in Julington Creek Plantation.
Officials said Tuesday's sighting at Garrison Drive in South Hampton Golf and Country Club about five miles southeast of Wednesday's sightings could be the same bear or could be a different one.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said if you see a bear, here is what you should do:
- Leave the bear alone.
- Stay away from the bear.
- Secure household garbage in an enclosed area such as a shed or garage.
- Put household garbage out on the morning of the pick-up rather than the night before.
- Feed pets indoors or bring in dishes after feeding.
- Clean grills and store them in a locked, secure place.
- Pick ripe fruit from trees and remove fallen fruit from the ground.
For more information on black bears, go to www.myfwc.com/bear or call FWC's regional office at 352-732-1225.