Largest Florida Black Bear Captured In Central Florida

By  //  July 23, 2013

620-pound black bear captured and relocated

ABOVE VIDEO: Check out the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission video of FWC biologist Cindy Bennett. She brought her GoPro camera with her and set it up down a path deep into the national forest to show the release of this record setting bear. This bear is the largest Florida black bear captured in Florida and then relocated. When he was released from the trailer trap he ran and jumped right over the camera. (Florida Fish and Wildlife video)

CENTRAL FLORIDA, USA – The near-record size male Florida black bear was trapped in Central Florida and is second in size only to a 624-pounder struck and killed by a vehicle in Naples years ago.

Check out the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission video of FWC biologist Cindy Bennett. She brought her GoPro camera with her and set it up down a path deep into the national forest to show the release of this record setting bear.

Before relocating and releasing this big guy, FWC biologists Mike Orlando and Dave Turner sedated him, collected some hair samples, and gave him an exam, an identification tattoo and ear tag. (FWC image)
Before relocating and releasing this big guy, FWC biologists Mike Orlando and Dave Turner sedated him, collected some hair samples, and gave him an exam, an identification tattoo and ear tag. (FWC image)

Bennett picked the right spot to set the camera, because when they opened the trap, the largest Florida black bear ever captured in Florida ran into his new home, jumping right over the camera.

FLORIDA BLACK BEARS RECENTLY TAKEN OFF THREATENED SPECIES LIST

According to Wikipedia, the Florida black bear  is a subspecies of the American black bear that has historically ranged throughout most of Florida and southern portions of Alabama and Georgia.

The large black-furred bears live mainly in forested areas and have seen recent habitat reduction throughout the state.

On June 27, 2012 the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) delisted the Florida Black Bear from the state threatened species list.

Successful conservation of the Florida black bear was confirmed by the FWC’s 2011 Biological Status Review, which reported the bear to be no longer at high risk of extinction.

In addition to delisting the Florida Black Bear from the list of threatened species, rules were adopted “stating it is still illegal to injure or kill a bear in this state, or possess or sell bear parts.

BEARS LOVES TO DUMPSTER DIVE

When bears find easy food sources, like trash cans that are not secured, they tend to return time after time and can get into trouble.

On June 27, 2012 the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) delisted the Florida Black Bear from the state threatened species list. Successful conservation of the Florida black bear was confirmed by the FWC’s 2011 Biological Status Review, which reported the bear to be no longer at high risk of extinction.

This bear was so used to getting into trash that even after the garbage was secured in a shed he returned and pulled the aluminum siding off to get at his free meal. FWC bear trapper Mike Connolly set a trap and caught this 620-pound bruin.

The near-record size male Florida black bear was trapped in Central Florida and is second in size only to a 624-pounder struck and killed by a vehicle in Naples years ago.

Before relocating and releasing this big guy, FWC biologists Mike Orlando and Dave Turner sedated him, collected some hair samples and gave him an exam, an identification tattoo and ear tag.

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