In yet another case of nature losing because of human encroachment it appears that a Florida Black Bear has been condemed to death after an encounter with a woman in Longwood Florida. It’s sad that an animal such as the Florida bear has to be euthanized rather than relocated to somewhere more suitable like here in the Ocala National Forest.
At some point I hope we’ll have more compassion and understanding and move away from this kill policy when it comes to protected wildlife. The natural world has been irrevocably changed by modern man and our desire to populate and own the entire planet has been devastating to the wildlife population of Florida. Much of the State has been broken into sections where wildlife cannot move from one patch of land to the other with safe passage and it has actually been very disturbing to the breeding and travel patterns of wild animals all across the State.
Do you think it’s worth the trouble to relocate this bear and her cub or should we simply euthanize it?
Woman Hurt After Startling Bear, Officials Say – Orlando News Story – WESH Orlando
LONGWOOD, Fla. — A woman was hurt by a bear at a Longwood apartment complex, according to officials in Seminole County. Click Like For Central Florida News Updates: Wildlife officials said they searched for the bear Friday. Officials said the incident was not an “attack,” but a “close encounter.” Deputies said 57-year-old Terri Gurley startled the bear while walking her dog at the Camden Club Apartments on Sabal Lake Drive. “I’m sure she was only protecting her cub, but I was surprised that she came at me,” said Gurley. “At first she was focused on the dog.” She told officials she threw some trash away in trash bin and that was when she was bitten. “We’re walking backwards and I tripped and fell,” said Gurley. “I looked sideways and saw her face and I rolled over and she bit me in my butt.” Florida Fish and Wildlife officers said the bear needs to be trapped and destroyed, because once it left Gurley go it moved her away from the trash bin. “We’re going to euthanize this bear,” said Hill. “We cannot tolerate bears that set up territories that they are defending in places where people are living.” Officials said the traps they set in the area failed to catch the bear overnight Friday. The traps will be reset Saturday night.
April 5, 2012 at 7:12 pm
Great information on host. I was wondering where I could host.