Gulf Breeze man captures video of two bears play fighting, wrestling

Two black bears were caught play fighting and wrestling on video in Gulf Breeze, Florida.

Jon Worley, an investor and real estate agent in Gulf Breeze, caught the two bears on video and shared it to Twitter, now known as X, on Thursday.

“Never dull here at night in the Midway part of Gulf Breeze, FL,” Worley wrote in the post, which has received 18,000 views so far.

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Gulf Breeze residents are no strangers to black bears, who are routinely spotted digging through trash cans, spooking pets and even going for a dip in the Gulf of Mexico.

Does Florida have bears?

Black bears are the only species of bear native to Florida, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

There are about 4,000 bears statewide and they typically can be found roaming forests and swamps from the Panhandle down to the Big Cypress National Preserve in Southwest Florida.

What to do if you encounter a bear

Encountering a bear from a distance is usually a good time to enjoy the experience, according to FWC. However, you shouldn't approach the bear. Begin to take the following steps if the bear’s behavior changes based on your presence:

• Stand upright

• Speak to the bear in a calm, assertive voice

• Slowly back up to a secure location, leaving the bear a clear escape route

• Avoid direct eye contact as this could be perceived as aggressive behavior

• Stop and hold your ground if the movement irritates instead of calms the bear

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What not to do if you encounter a bear

Here’s what the FWC says you shouldn’t do:

• Do not make any sudden or abrupt movements

• Do not run, this can trigger a chase instinct and bears can sprint up to 35 miles per hour

• Do not play dead, black bears eat dead things

• Do not climb a tree, they can climb faster than you, too

• Do not approach or surprise a bear, especially if one might be injured

The FWC says that you should aggressively fight back if a black bear attacks you. People have successfully fended off black bear attacks using simple tools like rocks and sticks or even their bare hands.

Does playing dead with a black bear work?

No, do not play dead if you encounter a black bear. As stated above, that could be more of an invitation for further investigation from the bear.

Can you shoot a bear?

Black bears are protected by law and it's illegal to shoot them without an FWC-issued hunting license or depredation permit unless it is to protect human life. Florida currently does not have an open-regulated bear hunting season at this time.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Florida man captures video of two bears play fighting, wrestling