Residents react to surprise black bear appearance at Fort Myers shopping plaza – Wink News

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 73F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph..
Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 73F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.
Updated: May 25, 2025 @ 7:13 pm
Black bear

A black bear was spotted roaming through a Fort Myers town center around midnight Sunday, surprising local residents.
A black bear was spotted roaming through a Fort Myers town center around midnight Sunday, surprising local residents.
Black bear
A black bear was spotted roaming through a Fort Myers town center around midnight Sunday, surprising local residents.
Rachel Scott encountered the bear while picking up her 17-year-old son from work early Sunday morning in Fort Myers.
“That would be the number one place I would least expect to see it,” said Scott.
Despite her surprise, Scott noted that the bear was in no rush.
“There was a couple people that were kind of walking around as it was moseying by,” said Scott. “But everybody kept a pretty safe distance. It was just kind of a wild thing to see in the heart of Fort Myers.”
WINK News reporter Paul Dolan visited Colonial Square Towncenter off Six Mile Cypress Parkway to learn more about the bear’s visit.
There, he shared a video of the bear with Jordyn Krusc, whose office is nearby.
“Oh my gosh, that’s a big bear,” said Krusc.
The bear’s size was notable, as it dwarfed a nearby trash can.
The town center’s realty company reported that more than 20,000 households are within three miles of the complex. Krusc speculated that the bear might have been searching for food near the restaurants and dumpsters.
“Just wanted to roll with some cinnamon butter,” said Krusc.
Scott reflected on the sighting, acknowledging the impact of habitat loss on wildlife.
“A lot of these animals are losing their habitats,” said Scott. “He should be in the woods not milling around a restaurant in a plaza at midnight.”
The presence of the bear raises questions about the increasing adaptation of bears to city life in Southwest Florida.
WINK News reached out to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to gather more information about the sighting.
Wildlife authorities emphasized the importance of securing garbage to prevent conflicts with bears, noting that black bears play a crucial role in the ecosystem.
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