Black bear spotted in tree at Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando

For the first time in recent memory, a bear made its way to Lake Eola in the heart of downtown Orlando on Sunday.

In an area known mostly for its various swans and ducks, the black bear proved to be a big attraction as park goers gathered to try to get a glimpse of it in a tree north of the amphitheater.

Police taped off the area and called officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, who arrived at the scene just before 2 p.m. as bystanders stood in awe pointing at the tree.

A crowd of around 20 people formed along the taped-off area, shouting, “Look I can see him,” and “This is crazy.” Many walking past were just leaving the weekly farmer’s market and asked why everyone was taking pictures of the trees. They later stood with their phones ready after learning of the bear.

Taylor Jones, 26, lives ten minutes away from Downtown Orlando and typically doesn’t come downtown often, but had decided to go to the farmer’s market Sunday when she saw the taped off section and overheard people saying there was an unexpected visitor.

“I have never seen a bear here, that’s for sure,” Jones said. “I came today just by chance. And there’s a bear.”

Al Lahnichi was walking around Lake Eola with his camera by chance when he spotted the taped-off section of the park and captured the bear on camera to show his daughter, who is in Morocco working as an optometrist.

“I’ve never seen a bear in Florida for 37 years that I’ve lived here,” Lahnichi said. “I just want to take some pictures so I can show them to my family and friends.”

The FWC is currently monitoring the animal, said Lisa Thompson, an FWC spokesperson in an email.

“As of this afternoon, the bear is approximately 50 feet up a tree; given a safe opportunity, staff may attempt to capture and relocate the bear,” Thompson said. “Seeing a bear in a neighborhood is not necessarily cause for alarm, however, it is important that residents secure food so that bears do not linger in the area. If a bear is not able to find food, it will move on.”

The bear caught the attention of state House Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, who tweeted that she contacted the FWC. The agency eventually responded to her, saying they were coming up with a plan to trap and relocate the bear.

“This is a very busy day at Lake Eola, so please give the bear space and don’t crowd around,” Eskamani said on Twitter. “FWC is on site with local park staff but likely has to wait till nighttime until the bear will consider coming down.”

Police officers at the scene said they did not know how the bear got there, but black bears have been seen in downtown neighborhoods before.

In April, a young bear was spotted in the College Park neighborhood. FWC was called and made the decision to let the bear come down on its own. The bear was killed when it crossed West Fairbanks Ave. in Winter Park.

As of 2017, there were more than 1,200 bears in the Central Florida zone, out of more than 4,000 statewide, according to the FWC.

In a May 30 news release , the FWC said this is the season that juvenile black bears between the ages of 1.5 and 2.5 years old start to leave their mothers’ home and look for their own. During spring and summer, bears return to activity after hibernating during the winter, the release said, which results in unexpected sightings when the temperatures start to warm up and bears look for new homes.

“The most important thing people can do to help these bears is to leave them alone,” said Mike Orlando, the FWC’s Bear Management Program Coordinator in the news release. “Give them plenty of space and let them move along on their own.”

While bears are not generally aggressive, if they feel threatened they may become defensive. So keep dogs on a short leash and be aware of your surroundings, the release said.

The FWC recommends to never feed or approach bears, to secure garbage and food, keep pet food indoors, clean grills regularly, clean bird feeders and alert your neighbors if you see bears.

Roger Simmons of the Sentinel staff contributed to this report.