Some Pasco County residents are on the lookout after spotting a black bear in their neighborhood.

  • Black bear spotted in Pasco County neighborhood
  • FWC said bear likely from Chassahowitzka National Refuge
  • Bears wander into urban areas looking for food, experts say

“So I look over and I thought to myself ‘is this a dog?’ It had to have been because I don’t just see bears roaming in my backyard,” said Lexington Oaks resident, Madison Showalter.

To Showalter’s surprise, it wasn’t a dog, but a black bear.

“I had seen it like just walking very slowly, and then when I started screaming it like darted so fast through the woods,” said Showalter.

Showalter said she brought her animals inside and told her neighbors, who are now taking extra precautions with their pets.

“We have a big side yard and we just let them walk around in the side yard and they’re pretty good but now we’re not sure we’re going to do that,” said neighbor, Marisa Torres about her two dogs.  

Florida Fish and Wildlife said the bear that was spotted was likely from the Chassahowitzka National Refuge about an hour north from Wesley Chapel.

Farther north in Marion County, another black bear recently had a close encounter with a deputy. That bear, FWC said, is likely from the Ocala National Forest.

Experts said the bears wander into urban areas looking for food or the younger bears are forced out by their parents.

FWC said it’s doesn’t happen all too often but it’s not unusual for the bears to wander this far, but for some residents it was quite the shock.

“I’ve never seen a bear in my life. That was the first time so I was freaking out,” said Showalter.

FWC said the bears are generally not aggressive however, their behavior can change when they are given food.

Experts said the black bear population has been expanding since the 1980’s. It estimates over 4,000 bears in the state.