Black bear smells take-out food on Florida home’s front step — and takes it, video shows

Irene Wright
·2 min read
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A Florida family opened their front door to find their food delivery missing despite being notified it had been dropped off.

Then they checked their Ring camera — and saw the furry thief.

Laidy Gutierrez, Daniel Bula and their niece, Nicole Castro, told WOFL they ordered an Uber Eats delivery from Taco Bell on Nov. 3 only to find their front step empty when they went to grab the food.

Gutierrez told the outlet she suspected what had happened, and decided to check their surveillance cameras to see if they could spot the thief.

The video, shared on TikTok, showed a black bear wandering up to the front of the house and sniffing around the food.

The bear decides to take the tacos to-go, and grabs the bag before sauntering off with its dinner.

“Taco Tuesday truly belongs to everyone who celebrates tacos,” a Taco Bell representative told McClatchy News in an email.

“He came, and he grabbed the food – then he came again for the soda,” Castro told WOFL.

The family told the outlet Uber Eats gave them a refund when they shared the video.

Black bears can be found in most places across the Sunshine State, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The bears prefer flatwoods, ridges and swamps, FWC says, but will roam searching for food, water and cover.

The video was captured in Longwood, about 15 miles north of Orlando.

What to do if you see a bear

Bear attacks in the U.S. are rare, according to the National Park Service. In most attacks, bears are trying to defend their food, cubs or space.

There are steps people can take to help prevent a bear encounter from becoming a bear attack.

  • Identify yourself: Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. This can help the bear realize you’re a human and nonthreatening.

  • Stay calm: Bears usually don’t want to attack; they want to be left alone. Talk slowly and with a low voice to the bear.

  • Don’t scream: Screaming could trigger an attack.

  • Pick up small children: Don’t let kids run away from the bear. It could think they’re small prey.

  • Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said. Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people.

  • Make yourself look big: Move to higher ground and stand tall. Don’t make any sudden movements.

  • Don’t drop your bag: A bag on your back can keep a bear from accessing food, and it can provide protection.

  • Walk away slowly: Move sideways so you appear less threatening to the bear. This also lets you keep an eye out.

  • Again, don’t run: Bears will chase you, just like a dog would.

  • Don’t climb trees: Grizzlies and black bears can also climb.

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