Bear wandering Naples captured, released into habitat
After a beach trip, yacht day and a stroll down Fifth Avenue South, a Florida black bear returned home Tuesday morning.
Residents spotted the roughly 230-pound male bear around Naples, posting photos and videos of him at beach access and hanging out on a 50-foot yacht. Reports of his sightings began early last week.
Police also noted the bear had been hanging around Gulf Shore Boulevard the past couple of days.
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Where did FWC take the bear captured in Naples?
While bears are best left alone to find their way back to their habitat, this bear seemed to have trouble, FWC spokesperson Arielle Callender said.
The FWC set traps to help him return to his habitat. Late Monday night, the commission trapped the bear and released him at Okaloacoochee Slough Wildlife Management Area Tuesday morning.
Florida black bears aren't uncommon to the Collier County region. There is a steady stream of videos posted on social media by residents showing bears roaming around yards and looking for food inside garbage cans. Recently, a mother bear and her cubs were frolicking in front of a house in Golden Gate Estates.
Of the 4,050 bears statewide, about 26% of bears live in the South region, which includes counties such as Lee, Collier, Broward and Dade, according to the FWC.
They prefer habitats with trees and shrubs that produce nuts and fruits, and often inhabit places like forested wetlands and uplands, scrub and shrub lands or swamps.
Feel threatened? Contact Wildlife Alert Hotline
Bears become more active in the fall and may be seen in unusual locations as they search for food, the FWC said.
The FWC advises people to contact the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922 if they feel threatened by a bear; observe a sick, injured dead or orphaned bear; or to report someone who is harming or intentionally feeding them.
The commission also said to remove or secure all food attractants like garbage, pet food and bird seed from around homes and yards to reduce potential human-bear conflicts.
Emma Behrmann is a breaking news reporter for The Naples Daily News and News-Press. You may contact her at emma.behrmann@naplesnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Black bear roamed Naples streets was captured, released into wild
