Residents of the Sandoval community in Cape Coral reported another sighting of what they believe is the same black bear that's been hanging around the neighborhood for the past few days.
Holly Barnhart and her family watched for two hours Monday night as the big black animal broke into their backyard and actually damaged their fence.
Barnhart heard rumors from neighbors about a bear in her neighborhood, but now she's convinced. "Now everyone can stop saying 'Is the bear real? Is it not a bear?' Trust me, it was a bear," said Barnhart.
Her and her family witnessed the bear climbing trees, eating coconuts and rolling around in their backyard.
Barnhart said it looked, "Just like a puppy."
Photos of Bear Sighting
Florida Fish and Wildlife says while it's rare to see a bear in Cape Coral, they can be found just about anywhere in Florida. They also say this is the time of year where bears are active and moving around in search of easy access to food, especially trash in residential areas.
"Once they realize there's nothing there for them, then they'll move on the somewhere else," Brian Norris from FWC said.
While monitoring the situation, FWC says they typically wait and see if the bear will relocate themselves before trapping them as a last resort.
Tips for when you spot a bear include making yourself as big as you can and creating loud noises. FWC says bear are naturally afraid and will typically run away.
If you happen to see a bear in your area and wish to report it, you can call FWC's Southwest Regional Office in Lakeland at 863-648-3200.
