Some residents in Daytona Beach are bearing witness to an interest sight: Namely, a bear.

  • Bear spotted up in tree in Daytona Beach
  • Officials think it's the same bear spotted last week
  • FWC will let it come down on its own for now

Viewer Cathie Rock notified us Monday morning about the bear going up a tree in the 1400 block of Nova Road, near Beville Road.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials say it's the same bear that was spotted in a tree at a Winn-Dixie in Holly Hill last week about 6 miles away. They think the bear is hunting for a home, then wound up in the busy shopping plaza near a pizza restaurant and law firm.

People have been stopping to take pictures and video throughout the day.

"We were coming back from lunch, walking down the sidewalk, and I looked at her and I'm like, 'Oh my gosh, it's a bear," Sydney Blevins said. "It ran over in front of the traffic, and somebody just honked their horn and all the traffic stopped in both ways. It ran back up the tree, and it's been up there ever since."

Wildlife officials said the best thing people can do for the bear is to leave it alone and let it come down on its own.

FWC roped off the area surrounding the bear.

"I'm from New York, so I've only seen bears in a zoo. So I'm very shocked," Sue Norwood said.

FWC said their bear management team is assessing the situation but they'll likely let the bear stay put until it moves naturally on its own. They aren't sure whether it's male or female.

Officials said if you see it, don't feed it.


Bear spotted in a Daytona Beach tree on Monday, June 12, 2017. (Latasha Sims, viewer)