Bears continue to be spotted in and around The Villages.
On Saturday morning, there were two reports of bears at the intersection of Rolling Acres Road and County Road 466.
“I observed two bears (mother and baby) in the Rolling Acres apartments. They entered through the Rolling Acres highway 466 back gate, which automatically opens around 7 a.m., I contacted Lady Lake police who were already aware and looking for them,” reader Steven Bradley told Villages-News.com.
Meanwhile, reader Bob Corey sent us a short video clip of what was presumably the same bears at the same location Saturday morning.
In late December, landscaper Kevin Burke shot photos of a mother and cub scavenging for food on CR 466 at Cherry Lake Road.
Also in December, Lady Lake hairdresser Juli Roberts sought the help of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission after a mother and cub were hanging around her salon hissing and growling at customers. The FWC set up a “scarecrow” that would squirt water on the bears upon approach.
In November, Villager Sara Branscome shot photos of a bear lumbering through the Village of Fernandina.
Bears are driven by their need to eat, so anything that is easily accessible and can be eaten is a potential bear attractant. Garbage is by far the biggest bear attractant in Florida, according to the FWC.
They are also extremely attracted to acorns.
