Black Bear Steals $45 Taco Bell Order From FL Front Porch

LONGWOOD, FL — A hungry black bear decided to "live mas" last week when he swiped a $45 Taco Bell order from a Florida family's front porch moments after it was delivered, according to video and a report.

The taco heist, which happened last week at the Longwood home of Laidy Guiterrez and Daniel Bula, was captured on Ring surveillance video and shared on TikTok.

In the video, an Uber Eats driver drops the order on their front porch. Moments later, the bear saunters up to the porch, snatches the Taco Bell bag in his mouth and strolls off.

Then, to add insult to injury, the bear returned a second time for the soda, the family told WOFL-TV.

"He came, and he grabbed the food – then he came again for the soda," Nicole Castro told the station.

Guiterrez told WOFL she and her family knew exactly what happened when they went to retrieve their food and discovered it was missing. Black bears are common in their neighborhood, they told the station.

Black bears are common in the rest of Florida, too. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, more than 4,000 black bears roam forests and swamps from the Panhandle all the way to Big Cypress National Preserve in Southwest Florida.

While the presence of bears is not necessarily a problem or a threat to a person's safety, it is illegal to feed them. Providing them access to food sources such as pet foods, garbage, barbecue grills, bird seed or even livestock feed can cause bears to lose their natural fear of humans, presenting an increased risk to their safety.

To reduce bear visits in your neighborhood, FWC officials suggest taking the following steps:

• Place trash cans on the curb the morning of pickup, not the night before.
• Protect gardens, apiaries, compost and livestock with electric fencing.
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• Feed pets indoors or bring in dishes after feeding.
• Clean grills and store them in a locked, secure place.
• Remove bird feeders or hang them at least 10 feet above the ground and 10 feet away from trees or structures.
• Remove wildlife feeders or make them bear-resistant.
• Purchase bear-resistant trash cans or dumpsters. Check with your waste service provider to see if they will provide one.
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To report a conflict with a bear, contact your local FWC office.