The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) trapped a black bear in Broward County on Sunday morning. The bear has been spotted several times over the past month in the Weston area. On Thursday, the bear appeared near Manatee Elementary School property, causing school officials to lock down the school for several hours.

FWC law enforcement officers spotted the bear on Sunday morning and monitored its location until a wildlife biologist arrived to tranquilize it. It was then transported to the Picayune Strand State Forest in Collier County for release Sunday afternoon.

Although this particular bear showed no sign of causing a conflict or posing a safety risk, it did not show signs of finding its way out of the area on its own either.

“A bear that wanders into a suburban area likely will retreat and find its way out on its own if there are no attractants available,” said Dave Telesco, FWC’s bear management coordinator. “But after a month of various sightings of this particular bear, it became apparent that we needed to help it get back to a more suitable area.”

There are between 2,500 and 3,000 black bears in Florida, and even though they remain listed as a threatened species, it is not uncommon to see bears as development encroaches upon their habitat. When a bear does appear in residential areas, it is very important for residents to remove or secure anything that might attract animals, such as garbage cans, pet food, birdseed, outdoor grills and compost bins.

“If a bear becomes used to humans, the risk increases for a negative human/bear encounter to occur,” Telesco said. “It is also important to note that it is illegal to intentionally place out food or garbage that attracts bears and causes conflicts. Remember, anything that attracts dogs, cats or raccoons will attract bears as well.”

Residents can call an FWC regional office to report bear sightings or to ask questions about bears. To report a potential wildlife law violation, call the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.