Black Bear in the Village of Winifred

[lovesports]

I've been slow in posting this. I wanted to see if someone else would as I we received a few e-mails on this bear.

About 3.5 weeks ago a big black bear was in a street checking out garbage bags. It was in Winifred in the early morning.
Shirley Czapla(sp) got a real good picture and it has been circulating in an e-mail. Sorry I don't know how to post the picture.
Guess black bears are becoming more common.

[mrfixit]

.......

So MAYBE I am NOT nuts..............

About 6 weeks ago...while driving by the North end of PALMER Golf Course
on Buena Vista.....I was sure I saw a Black Bear...ON the Course....
....and I don't even drink...

Not real big...Maybe 200 or 250 pounds (but the fur makes them look huge)

This was about 10:30 at night.

[graciegirl]

.......

So MAYBE I am NOT nuts..............

About 6 weeks ago...while driving by the North end of PALMER Golf Course
on Buena Vista.....I was sure I saw a Black Bear...ON the Course....
....and I don't even drink...

Not real big...Maybe 200 or 250 pounds (but the fur makes them look huge)

This was about 10:30 at night.

Bears, oh no. I think that is BIG. Bigger than TED. Did this bear cuss?

[CarGuys]

Bears, oh no. I think that is BIG. Bigger than TED. Did this bear cuss?

Gators, Snakes Rats and now Black Bears? Yea!

[gmcneill]

I also received an email photo of the bear. I also do not know how to share it here.

Help! Skyguy, bill n brillo, anybody!?!?

[jackz]

With the amount of Cougars in TV, the bears existence may be short lived.

[tainsley]

There are cougars in TV?

[jblum315]

I think he means human cougars LOL

[Figmo Bohica]

I think he means human cougars LOL

There are also vultures here, those are the ones still young enough to hunt but to old to bring their pray down. :a20:

[Taltarzac725]

There are also vultures here, those are the ones still young enough to hunt but too old to bring their pray down. :a20:

That's funny. On a more serious note, I am fairly close to Winifred. The bear must be using the golf courses to travel down the Villages. Cannot think of where the bear might be coming from though. There are black bears in the Ocala National Forest but where else close by has them?? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocala_National_Forest

[Joaniesmom]

I hope someone does not take it upon himself to kill that creature. If you see it. Please call the wildlife authorities.

[buggyone]

Maybe Gracie and her girl posse will go after the bear with their Super-Soakers. :crap2:

[asianthree]

problem is we have to put out the garbage early so gives him a reason to stay

[Ragman]

Hope the bear stays out of the roundabouts and golf cart paths or he's toast.

:eek::eek::eek:

[mulligan]

He's probably out looking for an attic.

[Cedwards38]

Regardless, this situation bears watching.

[skyguy79]

I also received an email photo of the bear. I also do not know how to share it here.

Help! Skyguy, bill n brillo, anybody!?!?Gurr... I prepared a post to answer this question and just discovered that I forgot to post after doing a test. Anyway, here's instructions for posting pictures:

Talk of The Villages - FAQ: Reading and Posting Messages (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/faq.php?faq=vb3_reading_posting#faq_vb3_attachment s)

p.s. Bill must be on a hiatus or I would have never beat him to an answer! :p

[BobKat1]

Regardless, this situation bears watching.

Best thing to do is to grin and bear it.

[Taltarzac725]

Bear with us with these puns.

[perrjojo]

:jester: :pepper2::pepper2:These puns are becoming unbearable

[rubicon]

Lions and tigers and bears . Lions and tigers and bears. I don't like the fact that I have to deal with geckos on my lanai.....snakes, rats lizards coyotes, curgars, bears bad drivers,errant golf balls what's a fellow to do woo is me woo is me ......cold snow and high taxes not looking so bad Minneapolis

[gmcneill]

By George- I mean, By Skyguy!- I think I got it.

[gmcneill]

The following is the body of the email mesage from the original source who emailed it to the person who emailed it out to the basketball league members.

At long last, here is the picture of the black bear that appeared in our Village of Winifred about 3.5 weeks ago. The picture was taken by our next door neighbor, Shirley Czapla(polish). It occurred on a garbage morning at about 6:30. Notice it is daylight outside. That dumpster was about 6-7 ft tall, and therefore the bear was about 5-6 ft. tall. Later, Jim
In God We Trust.
Jean & Jim Thomson



Now about those puns:

Mulligan, I got it! Clever and funny!!

And Gracie and Posh08: Evidently TV's newest furry resident heard about your wager and was looking to join the fun bc for him/her running "bear" through a square comes naturally.

[CaptJohn]

Yep, that's a black bear all right. They're like gators, just don't feed them and they'll leave you alone. He's probably at home as that's where he used to live before the folks on that street moved him out in his trail of tears. He just came back to visit his old homeplace. Wonder where the rest of his family is? Maybe the Morse's freezer! :laugh:
They're somewhat docile but very, very smart. Keep a good eye out, Gracie and Rubicon! :laugh:

[Taltarzac725]

By George- I mean, By Skyguy!- I think I got it.

Thanks for the picture.

[CaptJohn]

And Gracie and Posh08: Evidently TV's newest furry resident heard about your wager and was looking to join the fun bc for him/her running "bear" through a square comes naturally.

I wonder what Barefoot has to say about all this? :laugh:

[Taltarzac725]

He's probably out looking for an attic.

PatrickFMcManus.com: The Official Site of Patrick F. McManus (http://www.patrickfmcmanus.com/)

[CaptJohn]

PatrickFMcManus.com: The Official Site of Patrick F. McManus (http://www.patrickfmcmanus.com/)

I think milligan is writing about jimbo's picture of an actual bear in the attic.
Jimbo, how about reposting that picture here?

[gmcneill]

I was thinking that mulli's quip was in reference to the recent "how much weight does an attic bear?' thread and comments, which included the bear in the attic photo, yes?

[CaptJohn]

I was thinking that mulli's quip was in reference to the recent "how much weight does an attic bear?' thread and comments, which included the bear in the attic photo, yes?

Yes, that's what I'm referring to.

[CaptJohn]

Found Jimbo's picture:

[bestmickey]

PLEASE, don't hurt this bear. He's only looking to find food and survive. I pray he leaves on his own or that he's safely captured and relocated.

[dkrhardy]

Wow! But I just gotta ask ............. why is there a dumpster and a porta-potty there?

I also noted that the bear is roaming around on a trash day. Easy to find something to eat, I presume. Has anyone had their bags torn apart?

Don & Kaz

[Taltarzac725]

PLEASE, don't hurt this bear. He's only looking to find food and survive. I pray he leaves on his own or that he's safely captured and relocated.

If he was last seen 3.5 weeks ago, and no one else on TOTV has posted about it since then, he is probably out of the Villages.

[gmcneill]

Found Jimbo's picture:

That's It!!!

Maybe the Winnifred bear is looking for the Attic bear for the purpose of going on many meaningful picnics, with the ultimate intention of establishing a long-term exclusive commitment, at which time they will break out the fine china. It would make for a kod(i)ak moment.

[Patty55]

Do Florida bears hibernate?

[gmcneill]

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website:

Do Florida black bears hibernate? When are bears active? How long do bears hibernate?

In Florida, males and female bears that are not pregnant may den up in dense vegetation for only a few weeks or a month during the winter. Pregnant females will den up for the entire winter, and because their cubs are born in the den, they often select more protected sites. Black bear dens may be found in tree cavities, under blow-downs or fallen logs, or as ground nests in dense thickets.

Litters range from 1 to 5 cubs, but 2 or 3 are most common.

Bears can be active throughout the day depending upon the season, food resources and environment. Bears are generally more active at dusk, through the night and into dawn hours. For more "bear facts" go to The Florida Black Bear (http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/bear/).

[Patty55]

Interesting, I was told up north not to worry about bears in the winter, guess in Fl you do have to.

[CaptJohn]

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website:


Bears can be active throughout the day depending upon the season, food resources and environment. Bears are generally more active at dusk, through the night and into dawn hours. For more "bear facts" go to The Florida Black Bear (http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/bear/).

That's a very good website. Be sure to view the bear video near the bottom.

[buggyone]

Interesting, I was told up north not to worry about bears in the winter, guess in Fl you do have to.

No, you do not have to "worry" about bears in Florida. The Villages covers many, many square miles and has a lot of natural conservation areas. There are animals, reptiles, and birds that live in those natural spaces year round and you never see them. Once in a while, they do come out usually at night on the golf courses or across a road, to move around to new territory.

It is nothing to "worry" about. You will not find a bear in your patio or at your front door. You will find a pack of cougars at Katie Belle's on a regular basis.

[Schaumburger]

No, you do not have to "worry" about bears in Florida. The Villages covers many, many square miles and has a lot of natural conservation areas. There are animals, reptiles, and birds that live in those natural spaces year round and you never see them. Once in a while, they do come out usually at night on the golf courses or across a road, to move around to new territory.

It is nothing to "worry" about. You will not find a bear in your patio or at your front door. You will find a pack of cougars at Katie Belle's on a regular basis.

:a20: :a20:

[Dirigo]

Having lived with critters all my life I can assure you that they are more afraid of you than you are of them. They usually smell you long before they see you and they clear out.

That said, do not approach wildlife too closely; always watch from a distance.

We observed a coyote for several hours one day in back of our house in Liberty Park (in the eagle preserve). I have seen a shadowy dog-like figure walk on the back side of the trademark Morse fence in the middle of the night in our back yard.

I think I may have seen a jaguarundi Jaguarundi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguarundi) on our patio in the middle of the night about 10 days ago. I purchased and set up a game camera to see if I can get a photo of it should it come back.

We spray our trash bags with ammonia when we set our garbage out to keep the coyotes from ripping into the bags.

Enjoy the wildlife. We certainly do. But remember that they can become aggressive and used to people so for gosh sake's DON'T FEED WILDLIFE.

[duffysmom]

Dirigo please keep us informed. A camera that captures wildlife in your backyard is incredible. If it is a jaguarundi, maybe it's best to keep it quiet; the Morse family love animal trophies. :wave:

[jackz]

The bear was last sighted in the backyard of "Unhappy Now's" neighbor in his new bushes.

Sources report that he arrived in a Red Corvette.

[BritParrothead]

There have been many reports in the past few months of black bears on the Hwy 27, in and around the 50, and 2 were captured and rehomed near the Orange Tree development, on 27. Usually these have been young bears and mama has always been close by!

[Joaniesmom]

Dirigo please keep us informed. A camera that captures wildlife in your backyard is incredible. If it is a jaguarundi, maybe it's best to keep it quiet; the Morse family love animal trophies. :wave:

How do you know that? I would think just the opposite. They have given up a lot of money to set up all of the animal preserves in The Villages.

[Taltarzac725]

How do you know that? I would think just the opposite. They have given up a lot of money to set up all of the animal preserves in The Villages.

That's a joke I believe about the Morses' poaching case(s) in Montana. You would probably have to be facing a bear or some other critter breaking into your house before you could shoot it. Or, if it is attacking a person, you could shoot it.

Florida black bear attacks on humans are extremely rare. There have been some recently though. http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2012/03/black_bear_attacks_bites_flori.htm

[Taltarzac725]

Official advice on what to do if you meet a Florida black bear | Ocala.com (http://www.ocala.com/article/20120524/ARTICLES/120529853)

[Taltarzac725]

I've been slow in posting this. I wanted to see if someone else would as I we received a few e-mails on this bear.

About 3.5 weeks ago a big black bear was in a street checking out garbage bags. It was in Winifred in the early morning.
Shirley Czapla(sp) got a real good picture and it has been circulating in an e-mail. Sorry I don't know how to post the picture.
Guess black bears are becoming more common.

I e-mailed the Villages Daily Sun dailysun@thevillagesmedia.com with a link to this thread. Hopefully, they will look into it and give some pointers to Villagers about how to live with a Florida black bear visiting. He/she cannot be any worse than some of the 30+ day visitors to the Villages like the love bugs, some drunk drivers who are children of Villagers, as well as various others.

Bears have probably also been in this area of Florida for at least 5000 years or more. http://www.defenders.org/black-bear/basic-facts

[lovesports]

Thanks Tal,
Dad was in conservation so I got to raise some little cubs when Mama bear was killed.(someone shot her) when they got off bottle feeding they went to zoos because they had been domesticated.
Very shy animals. You see on the Orlando news they take to a tree when they get loss in the city.
They go where they find food. That's what draws them and yes we humans have taken over so much land that they have lost their forest homes.
Only thing I would tell a Villager is if you come on one, don't run. Make noise (clap and scream and they run away) and you back away.
We were in Canada hiking and we came around a curve and right in front of us was a black bear and two clubs eating grain that had fallen off a train. Mother protecting bears can be scary so we (bears included) all looked at each other. Looking into the eyes of a mama black bear is a little scary. No clapping as I didn't want one of the little guys to run our direction. We backed away and they kept eating. I will always cherish that close sighting.
Just don't panic and start running.

[Taltarzac725]

Thanks Tal,
Dad was in conservation so I got to raise some little cubs when Mama bear was killed.(someone shot her) when they got off bottle feeding they went to zoos because they had been domesticated.
Very shy animals. You see on the Orlando news they take to a tree when they get loss in the city.
They go where they find food. That's what draws them and yes we humans have taken over so much land that they have lost their forest homes.
Only thing I would tell a Villager is if you come on one, don't run. Make noise (clap and scream and they run away) and you back away.
We were in Canada hiking and we came around a curve and right in front of us was a black bear and two clubs eating grain that had fallen off a train. Mother protecting bears can be scary so we (bears included) all looked at each other. Looking into the eyes of a mama black bear is a little scary. No clapping as I didn't want one of the little guys to run our direction. We backed away and they kept eating. I will always cherish that close sighting.
Just don't panic and start running.

All kinds of bears--this is one animal I am very scared of for some reason. I doubt if I could get up enough nerve to run. Just walk backward very slowly while looking askance at the bear. That's what the bear experts seem to say too.

I know if I ever went hunting in an area where you might run into a bear--like a grizzly-- I would be loaded for bear. Cannot do much with the guns I have had most my life-- shotguns and 22s, unless you get way too close to the bear for comfort.

[lovesports]

Tal,
Grizzles are a much more aggressive breed of bear than a black bear. You won't be seeing any grizzles in The Villages. Saw some up in Alaska.
So back to our happy lives in The Villages!

[gmcneill]

lovesports: a clarification to the no running suggestion, please.

If you're in a group of two or more, is it ok to run if you're not the slowest runner in that group? ;)

[lovesports]

lovesports: A clarification to the no running suggestion, please.

If you're in a group of two or more, is it ok to run if you're not the slowest runner in that group? ;)

LOL...and more LOL

[leenie24]

About 6 weeks ago, having recently moved into my new house here in Winifred, I put out A LOT of garbage. Bags and Bags of garbage. At about 6 a.m. I looked out the window and saw that every one of the bags had been ripped open and the contents were strewn everywhere. Needless to say I was flummoxed. Were there individuals roaming around TV at night rummaging through the garbage???? Was it a neighbor looking for.......whatever? Now at long last the explanation!!! A black bear. Somehow I feel better about it being a bear and not a neighbor:laugh:

[Taltarzac725]

About 6 weeks ago, having recently moved into my new house here in Winifred, I put out A LOT of garbage. Bags and Bags of garbage. At about 6 a.m. I looked out the window and saw that every one of the bags had been ripped open and the contents were strewn everywhere. Needless to say I was flummoxed. Were there individuals roaming around TV at night rummaging through the garbage???? Was it a neighbor looking for.......whatever? Now at long last the explanation!!! A black bear. Somehow I feel better about it being a bear and not a neighbor:laugh:

If you put something that is appealing though out in the garbage to be picked up, like a workable chair, it is very likely that someone will come and nab it for some use. Maybe they can sell it to a thrift shop of some kind.

This almost always happens on streets in the Villages that get a lot of traffic.

I will be watching for an article about these FL black bear sightings in The Villages Daily Sun. Have not received a response from my e-mail asking them to look into this.

[lovesports]

Tal is right.
People will take chairs, tvs etc. but I have never heard of them ripping open all your bags and SPREADING garbage all over.
With our leash laws I don't think it would be dogs. Plus I have heard that the same night that Mr. Bear had his picture taken, others had garbage bags ripped apart.
I think leenie24 is right. It was Mr. Bear.

Now it's a beautiful day and I'm off to have fun in The Villages. Everyone have a great day.

[Figmo Bohica]

I know if I ever went hunting in an area where you might run into a bear--like a grizzly-- I would be loaded for bear. Cannot do much with the guns I have had most my life-- shotguns and 22s, unless you get way too close to the bear for comfort.


The vast majority of professional guides in Alaska carry shotguns loaded with slugs when in bear country. Ain't nothing like 1 oz of lead for stopping power.

The fact is that the shotgun is the most effective firearm for short-range personal defense. For example: an Uzi or Heckler & Koch sub-machine gun has about 340 ft-lbs. of impact energy - a 12 gauge shotgun has 2500 to 3100 ft-lbs. of impact energy.

If that don't stop the bear, shot the fastest runner in the leg and haul a$$ as fast as you can. :22yikes:

[Bobbie2836]

Can the picture in question be documented? It shows a stop sign, so there must be a cross-street there. Does anyone have any idea what street the picture was taken from? Or what the cross-street is? If I lived in Winifred, I'd sure like to know more details.

[Taltarzac725]

Can the picture in question be documented? It shows a stop sign, so there must be a cross-street there. Does anyone have any idea what street the picture was taken from? Or what the cross-street is? If I lived in Winifred, I'd sure like to know more details.

The date and time stamp seem way off too. It looks like the picture of the Fl black bear is from around 6 to 7 in the morning. The date and time is around 1:12 p.m. on July 15, 2012.

This could have happened in the transfer though?? https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/522289-post22.html

I usually give posters on TOTV the benefit of the doubt though as they did give names and such. https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/522298-post23.html

With a little research this looks like it was on Kingston Way near the intersections of either Caryle Lane, Davidson Avenue or Scarboro Ct.

[gmcneill]

July 15 was the date on which I posted the photo that I received via email (post 22).

In Post 23 I posted the text that accompanied the photo that I received via email.

I deduce that the photo was taken from Kingston Way, looking down Caryle Lane.

[Dirigo]

Just a note for what it is worth...I been to Alaska four times...twice in the bush with the highest concentration of brown bears in the State (brown bear is a coastal grizzly). I was told that if you are attacked by a brown bear you should play dead. Brown bears usually stop attacking when the perceived threat is thought to be rendered neutral.

With black bears the opposite is recommended. Fight for you life!

Not that any of us will ever need this advice, but I felt I needed to mention it.

[Taltarzac725]

Just a note for what it is worth...I been to Alaska four times...twice in the bush with the highest concentration of brown bears in the State (brown bear is a coastal grizzly). I was told that if you are attacked by a brown bear you should play dead. Brown bears usually stop attacking when the perceived threat is thought to be rendered neutral.

With black bears the opposite is recommended. Fight for you life!

Not that any of us will ever need this advice, but I felt I needed to mention it.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/522289-post22.html

Any advice about what to do if you encounter a Fl black bear while out walking your dog? Most dogs I know would start barking at the bear as soon as they saw it. Personally, I am just not going to go out with the dog near dawn nor dusk when the black bear is supposedly active.

From looking at a map of the Villages, this black bear sighting around June 20, 2012 is just northeast of the Winifred/Belvedere traffic circle off of Buena Vista Blvd. It is looking east on Kingston Way.

[sunglow]

I saw a coyote loping across a golf course around a month ago.

[sonny&karen]

came home from the rec. center at 230 today there was a red fox in the yard eating a duck egg. he run when he saw me left the egg behind . Village of Chatham

[marianne237]

As stated earlier, spray your garbage bags with ammonia. It may not always work, but hopefully will stop some critter from tearing up the bags. We had either coyotes or wild cats tearing into our bags until we saw this hint on TV and by golly, it worked. No more problems with cleaning up garbage messes.

[Taltarzac725]

As stated earlier, spray your garbage bags with ammonia. It may not always work, but hopefully will stop some critter from tearing up the bags. We had either coyotes or wild cats tearing into our bags until we saw this hint on TV and by golly, it worked. No more problems with cleaning up garbage messes.

We have never had any problems with critters ripping into our trash that I know about anyway. I am usually out to pick up the newspaper an hour before the garbage collectors arrive but not always if they are earlier than 7 a.m.

Think it depends on how close you are to a wilderness area.

[mrfixit]

As stated earlier,

spray your garbage bags with ammonia.

It may not always work, but hopefully will stop some critter from tearing up the bags. We had either coyotes or wild cats tearing into our bags until we saw this hint on TV and by golly, it worked. No more problems with cleaning up garbage messes.

....You are so correct......AMMONIA works like a charm......

I pour an ounce or two IN the bag.....and....spray a little on the bag when I get it to the street...
..NEVER failed me....

[hotrodgirl]

Perhaps this has been addressed before, but can anyone tell me why they don't use garbage cans or wate company trash bins in TV? I don't live there quite yet, but I find it odd that this is not the norm!

[Jim 9922]

Perhaps this has been addressed before, but can anyone tell me why they don't use garbage cans or wate company trash bins in TV? I don't live there quite yet, but I find it odd that this is not the norm!
1. Probably the big bins wouldn't fit very well in the already too small garages.

2. It seems that in our neighborhood that not too many people have more than one bag of garbage each collection. So, many do not need the oversize bins.

Raccoons are the most likely source of ripped up garbage bags. Those big street storm sewer openings and the wild life areas near the drainage and other ponds make great homes for them and the twice a week garbage bag goodies make for good meals.

[mrfixit]

Perhaps this has been addressed before, but can anyone
tell me why they don't use garbage cans or wate company trash bins in TV?
I don't live there quite yet, but I find it odd that this is not the norm!

....Noise..............EARLY in the Morning...No clang and bang.

....Safety.............So the cans don't end up in the street on a windy day.

...Aesthetics.........No ugly cans left by road...AFTER they are dumped.
...........................You can put out the trash and leave for the day.

...Requested by Villagers......some are mobility challenged..
............................................so only one trip to the road is appreciated.

...Workers Comp....Some people tend to overload the cans.
............................Workers end up with wrenched backs...smashed toes
....................................I think a MAX of 40 pounds per bag.
...........................If you consistently put out HEAVY bags..
..............................you will eventually find the heavies left behind.

...Equipment Cost... The "can robot" adds $16,000+ to the cost of a truck.
...............................lower equipment cost= lower garbage bills.

Might be more......but we are only aware of these reasons.

[hotrodgirl]

Thanks for your observations, though I think I still prefer a can! But I can understand why many don't. Just don't like having a plastic garbage bag sitting out there, smelly and easy prey to animals. But not having lived there as yet, and building very soon, I am certain I will get used to it and go with the flow! No worries-just curious!

[Taltarzac725]

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/522289-post22.html

Any advice about what to do if you encounter a Fl black bear while out walking your dog? Most dogs I know would start barking at the bear as soon as they saw it. Personally, I am just not going to go out with the dog near dawn nor dusk when the black bear is supposedly active.

From looking at a map of the Villages, this black bear sighting around June 20, 2012 is just northeast of the Winifred/Belvedere traffic circle off of Buena Vista Blvd. It is looking east on Kingston Way.

Going back to the FL black bear, has anyone seen anything in local papers about bear sightings in the Villages? This would be the Villages Daily Sun, the Ocala Star-Banner, the Orlando Sentinel and the Leesburg Daily Commercial. Could show up in some other periodicals too like the POA Bulletin. http://www.poa4us.org/

[graciegirl]

Going back to the FL black bear, has anyone seen anything in local papers about bear sightings in the Villages? This would be the Villages Daily Sun, the Ocala Star-Banner, the Orlando Sentinel and the Leesburg Daily Commercial. Could show up in some other periodicals too like the POA Bulletin. Property Owners, Association of Florida (http://www.poa4us.org/)

Is this bear real? Because if he is...Winifred is pretty close to us and I am a little ..um concerned that he is trotting around here.

You would think that Gary Morse could do something about this!!!!

I want my money back. ;)

[islandgal]

Florida black bear - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_black_bear)

Black bear sighting: Excitement about black-bear sighting turns to dread over animal's fate - Orlando Sentinel (http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-07-16/news/os-lk-sherry-boas-071612-20120716_1_mailbox-voice-mail-fwc-spokeswoman-joy-hill)
:ohdear::ohdear:

[Taltarzac725]

Is this bear real? Because if he is...Winifred is pretty close to us and I am a little ..um concerned that he is trotting around here.

You would think that Gary Morse could do something about this!!!!

I want my money back. ;)

I am not sure I want Gary Morse or his family doing anything about the FL black bear. Just hope it does not get hit by a car in some roundabout or tangle with some golf cart.

People probably should be walking around with the heaviest golf club they have though if they around at dawn or dusk with their pooch or alone.

The bear supposedly is the same one seen near Arnold Palmer six weeks or more ago. Or, at least, that's probably a good assumption.

[graciegirl]

I am not sure I want Gary Morse or his family doing anything about the FL black bear. Just hope it does not get hit by a car in some roundabout or tangle with some golf cart.

People probably should be walking around with the heaviest golf club they have though if they around at dawn or dusk with their pooch or alone.

The bear supposedly is the same one seen near Arnold Palmer six weeks or more ago. Or, at least, that's probably a good assumption.


Gary Morse and doing something about the black bear was a joke, son.

Some folks seem to think he can control sinkholes and tropical storms and Democrats.;)

[Taltarzac725]

Gary Morse and doing something about the black bear was a joke, son.

Some folks seem to think he can control sinkholes and tropical storms and Democrats.;)

Well the Morses do hunt. FL black bears are an endandered species from what I understand. This black bear in the Villages would probably be better off in Ocala National Forest though unless there is a family of bears in the Villages. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw250

[Taltarzac725]

How to Identify Bear Poop | eHow.com (http://www.ehow.com/how_2097403_identify-bear-poop.html)

This might come in handy.

[Bill Tasker]

I'm just curious as to where the bear would be coming from? Are there woods that close to Winifred?

[ronsroni]

A few years ago I was in a tee box on a course in Pa. I finished my pre-swing manifesto and as I began my backswing for that phenom I call my tee shot, I heard rumbling in the bushes some 15 feet from me. I looked up and spied a black bea..... two blac.... THREE BLACK BEAR CUBS. Yes, CUBS, shinnying up three trees.
Awwww. LOOK-UH.
Coming from Long Island, NY, I did not know from bears. Well, I RAN back to my cart squealing about the three little bears and ran BACK with my camera. I NEEDED A PICTURE. Well, the other golfers were about to kill me when, as I focused, I hear this hot sounding guwhoosh with a decided grunt at the end of it. Yes, indeedy. MAMA had arrived and let me know what was up. I will find the pics of the babes in the trees but mama told me what to do. Someone flagged a ranger and he came, called someone else and told us very matter of factly... "If they are found, they will be shot". WHAT??? SHOT?? why kill them. I started screaming, 'run for your lives... go... get away' but they didn't understand. Happily, I learned that they were not found on that day.
Talk about dumb. Folks, don't run for a camera. Back away and leave if you can. I almost cost them their lives. They were cute BUT mama kills those who screw with her babies.

[jblum315]

Very funny, almost tragic story

[lovesports]

I'm just curious as to where the bear would be coming from? Are there woods that close to Winifred?

Black bears can travel long long distances. They take nuisance bears over 90miles away to relocate in a forest and a percentage of them will return to where they were removed.

Some bears don't have a home location and just travel hundreds and hundreds of miles. Males usually travel farther than females and from the look of the size of the one in Winifred, it was probably a male.

All that being said, this area has a ton of trees and patches of forests here and there.
As has been said, developments are encroaching on bears natural habitat so you will see them almost anyplace. Orlando will have some that make the news. Since most travel from dusk to daylight, you don't usually spot them. All though some will travel in the day time and some have jumped into a pools in Orlando to cool off.
Just google black bears and you can find out anything you want to know.

[anarick]

Be beary beary careful when walking your dingos.

[Chuckw]

The picture was taken almost a month ago and to my kowledge, there have been no subsequent sightings... Guess it is now safe to put out the trash and get the newspaper in the morning.

I have attached the picture for those who have not yet seen it.

[Taltarzac725]

The picture was taken almost a month ago and to my knowledge, there have been no subsequent sightings... Guess it is now safe to put out the trash and get the newspaper in the morning.

I have attached the picture for those who have not yet seen it. https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/522289-post22.html

It seemed news to the various peolple I have mentioned it to over the past few days. One even lives in Winifred and had not heard about it. I made sure that I told a number of people at Doggie Doo Run Run as many of these people walk there dogs at night before putting them in for the night.

A few days ago I also sent an e-mail to The Villages Daily Sun for them to look into this thread about two sightings of FL black bear(s) in the Villages but have not heard anything nor seen anything in that paper. I assume the same bear was seen on the north side of Palmer golf course 7 weeks or so ago along with this one near the intersection of Caryle Lane and Kingston Way in the Village of Winifred.