After two days in trees at Lake Eola Park, bear wandered off overnight, FWC says

Jeff Weiner, Orlando Sentinel
·2 min read
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After two days spent in trees at Orlando’s signature park, a young bear that repeatedly drew onlookers, first responders and wildlife officials to Lake Eola Park since Sunday left the area overnight, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Lisa Thompson, a spokesperson for FWC, said Tuesday morning that the bear left its latest tree about 1 a.m. and “has dispersed from the area.” It’s unclear where the animal went from there, but state Rep. Anna Eskamani, who has been monitoring and providing updates on the bear she dubbed “Blaze,” said in a social media post it was headed east.

The bear was first spotted up a tree at the park on Sunday, drawing crowds of onlookers from a nearby farmer’s market. According to officials, it left that tree early Monday but got spooked by a bicyclist and climbed a different tree near Osphere Grill and Bar, where it spent the day.

“During this time of year, bears are more active. Juvenile bears are starting to disperse and leave their mother’s home range and may be seen in unexpected areas as they try to find a new home,” Thompson said in an email. “Typically, these bears will move away on their own. If you see a bear, give it space, don’t try to approach it, and never feed it.”

After each sighting, police responded to tape off the area and FWC staff came out, hoping to trap the bear and release it in the Ocala National Forest area.

Black bears have been seen in downtown neighborhoods before.

In April, a young bear was spotted in the College Park neighborhood. The bear was killed when it crossed West Fairbanks Avenue in Winter Park.

This is the time of year, between spring and summer, that juvenile black bears between the ages of 1.5 and 2.5 years old often go off on their own, the process known as dispersing. Bears are not generally aggressive but can become defensive if they feel threatened.

“Seeing a bear in a neighborhood is not necessarily cause for alarm,” Thompson said Monday. “However, it is important that residents secure food attractants so that bears do not linger in the area. If a bear is not able to find food, it will move on.