DEBARY, Fla. — Residents in a Volusia County neighborhood are on high alert for a black bear that’s been roaming their street.
The animal caused some damage to a home full of children.
The bear was spotted on Englenook Drive in DeBary and was still wandering homes Friday night.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers left the bear alone after it ran off into a wooded area in the neighborhood.
Tristan Chattic recorded video on his cellphone of the bear close to his home.
“I hear, ‘Daddy, I see it. It’s huge.’ And I go looking and just as sure, he was sitting right there,” said Chattic.
He said the bear added more damage to his fence, which was already in slight disrepair from Hurricane Matthew.%
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Wildlife officials and Volusia County deputies said the bear was not a threat.
Residents said they’re used to bear sightings. They showed Channel 9’s Ty Russell pictures of a bear near the front door of a home and of a bear drinking from a water fountain.%
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Florida Fish and Wildlife said most bears reduce their activity during the cold months, but sometimes male black bears do not.
Cox Media Group
