‘Seriously?’ A bear has taken up residence at this Florida community, and it’s hungry
Residents of the Thousand Oaks community in Davenport, Florida, have a new neighbor — a hungry one.
A black bear that they’ve apparently nicknamed “Yogi” has been tearing up the joint almost every night for about a month.
In cellphone video supplied to local TV station News Channel 8 by resident Lynn Wracan, you can see the bear mid-meal, chomping down on some avocados from her tree in the back yard.
READ MORE: Black bear attacks woman outside her home in Florida
“No freakin’ way,” she whispers. “Seriously?”
Another resident, Leslie Campbell, posted a picture of the big lug on her Facebook page.
“Here is a picture of Yogi, approaching our house, captured on our neighbor’s camera across the street, going to raid our trash can,” said the post.
In the comments section, people threw up lots of concerned face emojis.
Campbell responded by explaining that the bear went straight for the garbage can that was secured against raccoons, but was still able to get in there.
Another picture shows a dumpster with Papa John’s pizza pie boxes strewn about.
“No match for Yogi!” Campbell wrote, telling one friend that he was “missing all the neighborhood drama.”
READ MORE: A black bear visits a sheriff’s office in Florida
Thousand Oaks has put up notices around the community warning people to use caution. And the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has also been reportedly out to place warning cards on doorknobs. These cards contain “BearWise” information on how to keep these potentially dangerous animals at bay away and how to avoid a negative interaction if you do encounter one.
The FWC’s first piece of advice? Cut them off.
“When people intentionally or inadvertently feed bears, both people and bears lose,” says the agency. “BearWise communities commit to learning to coexist with bears, knowing when and how to report bear activity, and securing all potential food sources.”
If you see one, you are asked to call the agency’s Wildlife Alert Hotline right away at 888-404-3922.
