Innovation Park Bear Watch

The Black Bear, or Ursus americanus, is the smallest of the three bear species found in North America, and are found only in North America. The Florida Black Bear, or ursus americanus floridanus, are the bears that are native to Florida and have been seen recently around the Park. It is estimated that there are at least 600,000 black bears in North America. In the United States, there are estimated to be over 300,000 individuals. However, the Louisiana black bear and Florida black bear are threatened subspecies with small populations.

To learn more about Florida black bears and how you can help them survive visit The Defenders of Wildlife.


Sightings

November 30, 2007

A mother and baby bear were seen between Orange Avenue and Talla-Com Industries as well as around Seminole Golf Course.

April 18, 2008

Two bears, a mother and a baby, were seen on Paul Dirac Dr. The baby bear ran across the street and the mother bear was seen in the bushes.

"I just saw the bears about 20 minutes ago on a walk. In case you are interested here's what happened: I was startled and attracted to motion and noise in the woods while I was walking down Dirac Drive. I thought I saw something large (people sized) in the underbrush, so I approached the edge of the woods to see what it was. I considered of the bear rumors I had heard here, but for some reason it did not seem realistic to me at the time that I might be approaching a bear. I stared for about a minute but saw nothing. Then a baby bear sprinted across the road about 50 feet to my right. I then realized that the mom was hiding about 25 feet in front of me. I got an adrenalin dose and ran!"