Crime & Safety
Firefighters Rescue Real Life Smokey Bear (Cub)
The little critter was trapped when a wildfire broke out Thursday in Lake County's Royal Trails section.
BEAR CUB RESCUE: This little guy was rescued from a 285-acre brush fire in Lake County. Mama bear was nowhere in sight, but Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is treating the cub, which has minor injuries on its paws and head. Read more here: http://at.wftv.com/1qwNc5K
Posted by WFTV Channel 9 on Thursday, April 7, 2016
LAKE COUNTY, FL — A tiny bear cub trapped in a blazing wildfire in Lake County escaped major harm courtesy of first responders who took actions that would make Smokey proud.
It seems the little guy found himself in a rather tight spot when more than 250 acres in Lake County’s Royal Trails section went up in flames Thursday. As firefighters were working to bring the blaze under control, the tiny bear wandered out of the woods all on his own.
With his mother nowhere in sight and siblings not found, residents who spotted the critter scooped him up and brought him to firefighters for help. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission came out to the scene to check on the cub and determine what to do with him.
The tiny bear, since named S.J. (Smokey Junior), suffered slight burning on his paws and face during his ordeal, Lake County Fire Rescue reported. According to FWC, the frightened creature was going to be checked out by wildlife biologists before being taken to a safe place to recovery from the burns.
See Also:
- Black Bear Invades Home for Easter Candy
- Binge-Eating Black Bear Passes Out in Yard
- Watch: Life For Bear Cubs Has Its Ups And Downs
As of Friday morning, the wildfire in Lake County was under control, but “mop up continues,” Lake County Fire Rescue reported on its Facebook page.
Wildfires are a year-round concern in Florida where thousands of acres burn annually. A total of 835 wildfires had been reported between Jan. 1 and April 3, according to the Florida Forest Service. Those fires encompassed about 24,778 acres. While some of the state’s wildfires are sparked by lightning, many are not.
“Even though Florida is the lightning capital of the world, arson and escaped debris burning are still the two main causes of wildfires in Florida,” the forest service notes on its website. “Florida’s fire dependent ecosystems and year round fire season pose a challenge to wildland firefighters in their attempt to continually educate Floridians and visitors about wildfire danger.”
To find out more about wildfires and what can be done to prevent them, visit the Florida Forest Service online.
Photos courtesy of Lake County Fire Rescue
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