(NewsNation) — A Florida sheriff’s office is advising the public to keep their distance from a stressed black bear spotted in Walton County.
This bear, showing signs of severe stress, is definitely not in the mood for selfies.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office took to Facebook to warn drivers about the bear.
Their post humorously noted, “Famous last words, ‘If not friend, why friend shaped?’”
According to the source, they further described the bear as “stressed, depressed, lemon zest.”
In response to sightings of the troubled bear, law enforcement and Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission officials have reiterated their advice: Do not approach, feed, or photograph bears, especially during spring and summer when they are more active around urban areas.
When officers arrived at the scene where the depressed bear was last seen, it had already moved into the nearby woods, according to Lisa Thompson from the Conservation Commission.
Recent reports show a significant rise in human-bear encounters.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recorded a 33% increase in bear-related nuisance calls, totaling nearly 6,000 out of 14,000 calls in 2022.
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Mike Orlando, the Bear Management Program coordinator, emphasized in a news release, “If you see a bear in an unexpected place, give it plenty of space.
Do not approach or feed it, and the bear will usually move along on its own.”