Large Bear Spotted Near University Of West Florida Entrance

May 15, 2020


A large bear was spotted near the front entrance of the Pensacola Campus in the early hours of Friday, May 15, 2020. The bear was seen alone and was not approaching humans.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was notified immediately. UWF Police have increased their presence on campus, especially near the location of the bear sighting.

If you see a bear, please stay away and contact UWF Police immediately at (850) 474-2415 or 911. Please use caution if you are outside on the Pensacola campus.

Comments

12 Responses to “Large Bear Spotted Near University Of West Florida Entrance”

  1. Joel on May 18th, 2020 8:25 am

    Yes, and it was bear footed— no shoes.

  2. Alan on May 16th, 2020 10:57 am

    @Howie…..Nowhere in the article did I read where the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission wanted to kill the bear. I am sure they will capture and relocate it.

  3. Brian Farley on May 16th, 2020 10:48 am

    The bear is working on a marketing degree, but did not have internet access and has been confused since the quarantine started.

  4. Billy Howard on May 16th, 2020 7:10 am

    @ no excuses…not making fun of you but why should the bear “move on”? They were in those woods first…that bear didnt travel anywhere to get where it was sighted…I’ve seen them in the woods off of Gulf Power road… Scenic Hills Golf Course and along the river that backs UWF. I just hope some over zealous “wanna be hero” doesn’t mess with the bear. They are a protected species and I’m in the bears side in this one…

  5. boo boo on May 15th, 2020 7:15 pm

    lookin for a picnic basket…

  6. tg on May 15th, 2020 6:45 pm

    He heard there was a Starbucks near by.

  7. Howie on May 15th, 2020 5:30 pm

    Bears can travel for miles. They leave Eglin AF Base and end up in Gulf Breeze. Believe it or not.

    I’m sure there are other animals that will show up that most people don’t see very often. We have a hungry Bobcat living near homes on Hwy 297A. Mr. Bob eats small animals including pets and I don’t like it. But nothing I can do about it. I’m not going to kill it, just like they shouldn’t kill the bear on campus. Capture it and take it to where many more bears live. The Wildlife Commission is always wanting to kill something. Makes me sick to my stomach to think about it.

  8. Alex on May 15th, 2020 4:11 pm

    dear resident, please read no excuses comment again. And besides that the bear did not walk the 20 miles, I gave him a ride in my car.

  9. mat on May 15th, 2020 2:29 pm

    Maybe it was Bigfoot is disguise.

  10. Residenet on May 15th, 2020 1:46 pm

    “Some of the increased sightings are because of the fires that have been burning through their habitat. ”

    So the bear walked 20 miles through Pensacola from Hurst Hammock Road to UWF? There have not been any wildfires in the woods around UWF

  11. No Excuses on May 15th, 2020 1:41 pm

    Some of the increased sightings are because of the fires that have been burning through their habitat. Please be patient (and vigilant!” until they have a chance to move to other areas to live and feed. Hopefully, if people don’t feed them or make food available to them through trash, then they’ll move on.

  12. Linda Sharp on May 15th, 2020 1:29 pm

    Just PLEASE don’t kill the bear!!!!!!!!!