ORLANDO, Fla. — Some Dr. Phillips residents say a bear has been roaming through the Westbrook apartment complex and the Marbella Woods condos down the street.
They want to warn everyone to be on alert. It caught neighbor Sebastian Inziarte off guard at Westbrook Apartments.
“It was really surprising,” he said.
Inziarte says he had a very close call as he went downstairs to get a food delivery and discovered a bear.
“I went down to take the sushi, and some girl started saying be careful, there’s a bear behind you, and I was like, that’s crazy, I didn’t know,” he said.
Neighbors like Hamid Dghirni say they saw the bear several times in the last week. There’s a wooded area behind the complex.
“We’re taking precautions, making sure the trash is put away and secured,” Dghirni said.
Dghirni said, “A notice was spread around to all the neighbors. They know about it, taking precautions and we’re watching out for each other.”
Wildlife officers say that in the fall, more bears may be visible as they look for food and try to store up reserves for the winter.
While neighbors like Inziarte are concerned about their safety, they don’t want the bear harmed. He said, ”I like the bear, it’s cute.”
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, there are more than 4,000 black bears in the state of Florida. If you see one, stay calm, don’t approach it, and definitely don’t feed it.
FWC sent this statement:
Staff with our Bear Management Program are aware of reports of a bear at this apartment complex and have set traps to try and relocate the bear. Staff are also canvassing the area to provide guidance to residents on best practices to help prevent conflicts with bears and to identify potential attractants that should be secured to prevent bears and other wildlife from lingering in the area.
The FWC responds to human-bear conflicts based on the specific circumstances of each situation. Our staff will continue to monitor and provide assistance.
If people see a bear, give it space, don’t try to approach it, and never feed it. If a resident in this particular situation opens their door and sees a bear close by, they should immediately go back inside, close the door and call the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
— Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
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