Authorities have issued a warning to the public, advising them to refrain from taking selfies with a distressed black bear. The bear was sighted near the north side of Highway 98 in Santa Rose Beach last week.
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The Walton County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a Facebook post that people should take photos with the animal and respect its need for space. “Onlookers were trying to take selfies with the bear and he’s clearly not in the mood for pictures. The bear has shown signs of severe stress. We’re going to leave the rest to the pros at Florida Fish and Wildlife who are en route,” the post reads. Authorities warned not to approach black bears at any time, “especially those that are showing aggression like this big fella.”
According to The Guardian, an FWC spokesperson said the bear did not appear to be injured but most likely overheated due to the weather and needed to take a break before moving on. Black bears are commonly seen in Florida, especially during the spring and summer when young bears leave their mothers and seek new territory.
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Additionally, the spokesperson said, “Typically, bears will move along on their own. If you see a bear, give it space, don’t try to approach it, and never feed it.” They also advised the public to visit bearwear.org to learn more about safely coexisting with bears. Crowding around a bear can provoke a defense response, which can be dangerous for the bear and the people involved. The post had over 44 comments where people made jokes about why the bear was depressed. One person wrote, “Just watched a video about Florida bears yesterday, we are invading their turf and interrupting their feeding patterns, they get HANGRY just like us,do not feed and don’t think you can outrun one that’s looking all cute and cuddly.”
According to FWC data, there are around 4,050 black bears in Florida. Governor Ron DeSantis recently signed a controversial bill which allows the public to shoot bears if they feel threatened by them, their pets, or their property. Republican Congressman Jason Shoaf, a well-known hunter, introduced this bill. The legislation was justified by claims of bears being a threat due to alleged bears breaking into homes, although there have been no documented cases of this happening.