(Mirror Daily, United States) – According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, a bear managed to flee from the officials after being spotted in the area of South Fairfield Drive and Gulf Beach Highway on Thursday.

FWC and local officials did their best to corner and capture the animal, but somehow it managed to retreat into a wooded area. Therefore, biologists decided that it would be safer to avoid pursuing the bear into the woods.

This way, both the bear and the personnel won’t be harmed. However, the officials will keep the area under surveillance. In case citizens see the bear, they are advised not to approach it and to call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.

Plus, the FWC’s website explained that if bears do not find food, they will leave the neighborhoods. In other words, people should secure their garbage and everything that may attract a bear to prevent conflicts around businesses, neighborhoods, and homes.

According to the agency, there are a few rules for coexisting with bears that citizens are advised to follow. First, they should store unwashed recyclables and garbage in containers that are resistant to bears or in a secure area, such as a garage or a sturdy shed until morning when they will be picked up.

Secondly, pets should be fed indoors or at least food dishes should be brought inside before dark, even the empty ones. The third rule is never to play dead, run or turn your back from a black bear. The safest method is to back away slowly into a secure are, such as a building, car or house.

Furthermore, when you are in a safe area, and you are sure that the bear has a clear escape route, you need to blow a whistle, bang pans and pots and yell loudly to scare the bear away.

The agency asks citizens traveling and living in the area of South Fairfield Drive and Gulf Beach Highways to stay indoors until the officials locate and remove any bear that was reported and spotted in the area.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Animal Control personnel together with Escambia County Sheriff’s deputies are currently trying to tranquilize and remove the bear from the area that is populated.

Citizens must not approach the animal. Anyone who sees the bear is asked to call 436-9620. Hopefully, there will be no further incidents like this in the future.

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