Police in Florida are cautioning the general public to keep away from taking selfies with a distressed black bear that appeared on Freeway 98 in Santa Rosa Seaside.
The bear, described as “harassed and depressed” by the Walton County Sheriff’s Workplace, attracted crowds wanting to snap photographs, regardless of its clear discomfort.
Rangers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee (FWC) have been known as after stories of onlookers gathering close to the bear, which was resting by a telegraph pole.
By the point officers arrived, the bear had retreated into close by woods. Officers famous that the bear was possible overheated relatively than injured.
Florida’s black bears are generally seen in spring and summer time as they enterprise out to new territories.
Specialists emphasize giving bears house and by no means approaching or feeding them, as shut encounters may cause bears to turn into defensive.
Latest bear sightings in Florida embody one strolling by way of a yard in Santa Rosa Seaside, one other on the College of Florida campus, and one in downtown Fort Myers.
These encounters often contain bears looking for meals.
The FWC estimates that about 4,050 black bears stay in Florida. Regardless of these numbers, human interactions with bears may be dangerous. In response to security considerations, Governor Ron DeSantis not too long ago signed a legislation permitting residents to shoot bears perceived as threats.
This laws, prompted by claims of bears inflicting residence break-ins, has sparked controversy and debate.
This article by Trinity Sparke was first printed by One Inexperienced Planet on 23 July 2024. Picture Credit score :Steele-Shot/Shutterstock.
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