A Florida Black Bear has died after the sheriff’s office was called to a residential neighborhood over the weekend.
On Saturday, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office was called to Royal Beach, where there was a large black bear, approximately 6′ feet and 300 pounds hanging around.
The bear was walking around before it climbed a tree in a backyard along Crestwood Blvd. While attempting to keep an eye on the bear, FWC Officers arrived.
According to deputies, they spoke with a resident in the 100 block of Belmont Drive who stated that she and her husband were inside their house with their three kids when they heard a dog bark.
When they went outside, the resident noticed the black bear inside her covered back porch, approximately five feet from her back slider, an area where her kids normally play. The bear continued to walk around towards the south side of the house.
After a few seconds of the bear going out of her view, she saw the bear directly next to the porch. The bear had climbed a tall tree. But after a few minutes, the bear came down and continued to walk towards her residence.
An hour later, a second deputy arrived at Crestwood Blvd just west of Royal Palm Beach Blvd, where he secured a perimeter spot at the southwest corner of Huntington Woods development in reference to locating and containing a black bear that was loose in the Saratoga Lakes development.
The deputy then relocated his vehicle to the front of that residence in an attempt to contain the bear. Moments later the deputy was advised that the bear had climbed a tall tree in the 900 block of Crestwood Blvd so he then repositioned his vehicle to that location and assisted additional deputies and FWC officers who had taken control of the scene to keep the flow of traffic moving and also to keep the public away to a reasonable distance for not only their safety, but the bears as well.
PBSO’s Drone unit also arrived on the scene to help locate the bear, who was seen coming out of the bushes and then climbed a large pine tree, approximately 50 feet in the air.
According to deputies, the bear stayed in the tree while FWC officers stood at the bottom of the tree to make sure the bear did not climb down. PBSO’s role was to assist FWC Officers until they were able to locate a trapper, tranquilize the bear and relocate it.
“However, after several hours of waiting for a bear trapper and/or a tranquilizer, from FWC, we were faced with a very difficult decision,” said PBSO.
“At 12:25 pm, the bear began to climb down the tree. Deputies and FWC Officers made loud noises in hopes the bear would climb back up the tree. But the bear began to get restless and climb back down the tree,” said PBSO.
“Unfortunately, the bear had no place to roam safely. The incident location and surrounding area are residential neighborhoods and fearing the bear would roam into the residential communities and pose a further risk to the community, we were faced with the incredibly difficult decision to discharge our firearm, striking the bear, for the sake of public safety. Sadly, the bear passed away,” said PBSO.
Visit Tampafp.com for Politics, Tampa Area Local News, Sports, and National Headlines. Support journalism by clicking here to our GiveSendGo or sign up for our free newsletter by clicking here.
Android Users, Click Here To Download The Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook Here Or Twitter Here.
Copyright 2022 The Free Press, LLC, tampafp.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.