Bear Scare: Philippe Park Closed After 2nd Bear Sighting: VIDEO

CLEARWATER, FL — Dave Scrivener, manager of the Countryside Recreation Center, has seen his share of wildlife in Florida including alligators and coyotes. But this was a first for him.

Scrivener had just turned off Countryside Boulevard onto Sabal Springs Drive just before 6 a.m. Saturday when he spotted something large in front of his vehicle.

"He was sitting right in the middle of the road," Scrivener said. "At first I thought it was a big dog."

But when it got up and lumbered off the road, Scrivener realized it was no dog. It was a black bear.

"This was a pretty good-sized bear. This was no cub," he said. "It was a big bear."

The bear was caught on home video near Curlew Road and Countryside Boulevard early Saturday before making its way south in the direction of the Countryside Recreation Center.

The bear proceeded to climb a tree in an attempt to gain access to the adjacent Misty Springs condominium complex. Scrivener called 911, called his wife and told a woman who was jogging to stay away from that area.

Officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission responded along with the Clearwater police, but they couldn't find the bear.

Tuesday morning, the FWC closed Philippe Park, 2525 Philippe Parkway, Safety Harbor, after a bear was seen there.

As spring temperatures warm, bears are becoming more active, increasing opportunities for conflicts with people. On May 21, the FWC received reports of a bear spotted in the Port Richey area including a surveillance video of a bear wandering through a yard in Gulf Highlands Drive.

“Bears are coming out of their winter dens and they’re searching for food,” said Dave Telesco, who directs the FWC’s Bear Management Program. “Secure trash, pet food, bird feeders and other food items that could attract a bear to your yard or neighborhood. If you don’t give them a reason to stay, they’ll move on.”

According to the FWC, bears are driven by their need to eat and have a sense of smell that can detect odors over a mile away. Problems arise when bears gain access to food sources such as pet foods, garbage, barbecue grills, bird seed or even livestock feed, said

While black bears generally are not aggressive, they have injured people in Florida. Telesco said people should never intentionally approach any bear. When walking your dog, keep your dog close to you – preferably on a non-retractable leash. Dogs can trigger defensive behaviors in bears.

If a bear feels threatened, they may clack their teeth together, moan, blow, huff or stomp the ground. They may bluff charge (run toward you and then stop before reaching you). These are all ways the bear is showing you it is as uncomfortable with the situation and it wants you to give it some space. These are not indications of aggressive intent or an imminent attack, Telesco said. Aggressive black bears are rare and eerily silent.

If you encounter a bear at close range:

• Remain standing upright
• Speak to the bear in a calm, assertive voice
• Back up slowly toward a secure area and be sure to leave the bear a clear escape route
• Avoid direct eye contact - bears and other animals may view this as aggressive behavior
• Stop and hold your ground if your movement away seems to irritate instead of calm the bear

Do not:

• Make any sudden or abrupt movements
• Run - running can trigger a chase instinct and bears can sprint up to 35 mph
• Play dead - black bears eat things that play dead or are dead
• Climb a tree - black bears can climb 100 feet up a tree in 30 seconds
• Approach or surprise a bear, especially one that may be injured

If a bear comes into your yard:

• You want to let the bear know it is not welcome in your yard, so from a safe location, scare it away by yelling, banging pots and pans, using an air horn, or anything else that makes a lot of noise.The use of paintballs, bear spray and sling shots are also allowed under FWC guidelines.

If a black bear attacks you:

• Fight back aggressively. People have successfully fended off black bear attacks using rocks, sticks or even their bare hands.

If a bear is threatening the safety of humans, pets or livestock, or causing property damage, contact the FWC or call the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.