‘Don’t want to see them dead’: Nearly 500-pound black bear found shot to death in Florida neighborhood
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating after a black bear was found shot to death in a Florida neighborhood earlier this month.
Bill Lueckfeld, who lives in the Foxborough Farms neighborhood in Apopka, said he took his dogs out around 9 p.m. on June 6 when he found the bear laying on his grass, NBC affiliate WESH reported.
After finding the bear, Lueckfeld and his wife called authorities and said the FWC came out to investigate and remove the nearly 500-pound bear.
Lueckfeld told WESH he initially thought the bear had been hit by a car because of the rain. However, investigators found a bullet hole in the bear’s lung.
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“These animals, in my opinion, are majestic. They’re a powerful animal. They’re docile in a sense, as long as you leave them alone, and this is their habitat,” Lueckfeld told WESH. “We don’t want these animals harmed. We don’t want to see them dead. We love seeing them as they roam around the neighborhoods.”
Since his neighborhood is close to Wekiwa Springs State Park, he said it’s not uncommon to see a lot of wildlife nearby.
According to WESH, the incident comes as a bill that would allow residents to shoot bears deemed “an imminent threat” awaits Gov. DeSantis’ signature.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Jason Shoaf, explained its intent, saying it will allow residents to protect their families and pets in “case of a bear attack.”
“Give Floridians the right to protect their homes, their pets, and themselves and their families in case of a black bear attack,” Shoaf said.
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However, Lueckfeld said he doesn’t agree with the proposed legislation.
“You don’t need to get rid of the bears. The bears are here and they’re going to stay here until we keep pushing them out. And, hopefully, we don’t,” he told WESH.
It’s illegal to intentionally feed bears, leave food or garbage out to attract them in Florida. To prevent bear sightings, officials recommend securing trash cans. People can also scare bears away by yelling, using an air horn, or anything else that makes a lot of noise.
Anyone who feels threatened or sees any injured, orphaned, or dead bears, is urged to call the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.
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