Bear seen roaming Orlando neighborhoods hit, killed by car

ORLANDO, Fla. — The story of Orlando’s latest wandering bear met a sad end on Thursday when the bear was hit and killed by a car.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials confirmed that the bear died after being hit by a car along Fairbanks Avenue between 11 p.m. Wednesday and 7 a.m. Thursday.

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For days Orlando residents have documented the bear roaming through several urban neighborhoods.

FWC officials said attempts were made to try and trap the bear for relocation but, “the bear continued to be on the move.”

Read: ‘Please do not approach’: Bear spotted roaming Orlando neighborhoods

“Each situation may be different, but generally it is best practice for bears to be given plenty of space so that they will move away on their own,” wildlife officials said.

Police said the bear was spotted in the area of Lake Ivanhoe Park on Monday and in a tree near Yale Street and Formosa Avenue in College Park.

Read: Orlando bear watch: Police say bear is still roaming College Park

Wildlife officials said black bears are reported in the downtown Orlando area each year, particularly during the spring when bears are more active and juvenile bears are starting to leave their mother’s home range.

“Typically, these bears have moved along out of the city on their own and this is the first time that a dispersing bear has been hit by a car in the city of Orlando, based on reports to the FWC,” officials said.

Read: Bats, bears & manatees, oh my: How to enjoy, help conserve Florida wildlife this spring

To learn more about bears and how to avoid conflicts with them, click here. MyFWC.com/Bear

You can contact the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) if you feel threatened by a bear; observe a sick, injured, dead or orphaned bear; or to report someone who is either harming bears or intentionally feeding them.

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