A Black Bear Was Drowning When This Brave Man Did Something Heroic

Due to its peninsula shape and moderate year-round temperatures, Florida is a state that hosts a variety of small and large animal species.  Yes, though once in rapid decline and nearly non-existent, the Florida black bear population has climbed back to over 4,000 bears in the state since the 1970s. However, like many large animals, bears have the tendency to become very nosey  at times, especially if they smell food. This can often lead them to wander from their forest habitat and into neighborhoods and cities.

This is the story of one curious Florida black bear that did just that. Out on the hunt for the food, wildlife authorities were called to remove a bear from civilization and put it back in its natural habitat. But things took a scary turn when a tranquilizer dart didn’t do its job as quickly as it should have. Check out the amazing story here:

 Florida Black Bears?

You might not immediately think “black bear” when it comes to animals in Florida. No, the animals that are usually first to mind in the Sunshine State are panthers, alligators, and snakes. But the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission estimates that over 4,000 black bears reside in Florida as well.

 Living the Florida Bear Life

Male black bears usually grow to weigh between 250 and 300 pounds, and females usually weigh between 130 and 180 pounds. They feed mostly on plants, but also eat insects and meat. Black bears also have the potential to be somewhat nosy…

 One Nosy Bear

Bears typically enter into human territory when they’re hungry, as was the case with a 400-pound black bear recently in Alligator Point, Florida, which is located on St. James Island off of the Gulf of Mexico. The community borders Bald Point State Park, which is a popular habitat for many black bears.

 Looking for Fish?

As we noted in an earlier slide, bears eat a combination of plants, insects and meat – but their favorite food might be fish. Could the black bear have been rummaging through the suburbs looking for some leftovers?