SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – After spending several hours perched in a tree near Markham Woods Middle School, a black bear climbed down shortly before 5:30 p.m. Monday and wandered toward the woods adjacent to the school.
Students and teachers had been buzzing with excitement throughout the day after the school’s principal alerted families about the bear sighting.
“The kids were super excited. They didn’t even know Wriggly was up there,” said Kendyl Thomas Williams, a teacher at Markham Woods Middle School, referring to the name she gave the bear. “I just named the bear Wriggly, and I’m super excited about him. It’s a great adventure. It’s an experience.”
Residents say bear sightings are common in the area. Joel Russell, who lives across the street from the school, said he’s seen multiple bears on his property at once.
“I’ve had five in the front yard at one time,” Russell said. “It’s unbelievable how often they’re here.”
Representatives from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) monitored the bear throughout the day, ensuring it safely returned to the woods.
This sighting comes as FWC continues to gather public input on the possibility of reinstating a bear hunt in Florida. Several virtual public meetings have been held to discuss potential guidelines, including timing and duration. The next meeting is scheduled for April 2.
Public opinion on the issue remains divided.
“Do you think the bear population has gotten too large? Well, yes and no,” Russell said. “Are there too many bears, or are there too many people? We’re taking up all the bears’ space.”
The last bear hunt in Florida took place in October 2015 but was halted after two days when the quota was met. FWC officials say public feedback collected during these meetings will be presented to the commission in May, when a decision could be made.
Some locals, like Russell, oppose the idea of a hunt.
“I would be against it,” he said. “If you leave the bear in the tree, the bear will come down. It will be fine and go back into Heathrow.
Anyone who feels threatened by a bear can call the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC.
“If you see a bear, give it space, don’t try to approach it, and never feed it,” the FWC said. “Seeing a bear in a neighborhood is not necessarily cause for alarm. However, it is important that residents secure food attractants so that bears do not linger in the area. If a bear is not able to find food and is given space, it will move on. Feeding bears can make them lose their natural fear of people.”
Markham Woods Middle School Principal Dr. Jason McDonald sent a note to families to alert them about the situation.
“Dear Markham Woods Families,
“I wanted to let you know that there is currently a black bear in a tree near the parent loop by Markham Woods Middle School. Law enforcement are watching the animal for movement and communicating with Florida Fish and Wildlife, who are on their way to address this situation.
“Seminole County is home to several black bears, and as a precaution, we are including a link with helpful tips on safety about bears. Please remind your children to be aware of their surroundings when walking to and from school, near wooded areas, as well as avoiding interaction with wildlife they may encounter.
“As always, please feel free to contact me should you have any questions.”
