A woman living in the North Naples community of Carlton Lakes snapped a picture of a large bear drinking from the auto-fill unit outside her screened-in pool Tuesday. She believes the recent drought may be driving bears to search for water sources.
Pam Stracka said that bears have come into her community before, usually trying to get at trash cans on garbage pick-up day. But recently she said she's noticed the lid to the auto-fill coming off, and couldn't figure out how it was happening until Tuesday morning.
"My husband said 'the lid's off the auto-fill again,'" Stracka said. "So I was about to go out and put it back on, and there she was."
"She just lifted the lid off and out it to the side," she added. "And obviously desperate for water, drinking out of the auto-fill."
Nancy Payton of the Florida Wildlife Federation said bears are opportunistic, but resourceful. She thinks the bear outside Stracka's pool was just washing down an easy meal.
"A bear has a very sensitive nose and can catch wind of food a mile away," Payton said.
Stracka said that the bear went back into the woods when it heard her voice, but said that she doesn't plan to secure the auto-fill's lid - in case the animal decides to go for another water source.
"We thought 'well, should we nail it down?" Stracka said. "'Will she then decide to come through the screen to help herself to the pool?'"
Payton said garbage cans should not be left out where bears can get at them. She said that other yard items like bird feeders and outdoor grills can attract bears also.
