What to do if you encounter a Florida Black Bear.

Florida Black Bear (Ursus americanus floridanus)

On a typical autumn evening in Naples, my dad had a run‑in with a Florida black bear in his condo parking lot. He had just tossed a bag of trash into the dumpster when a bear stepped out from behind a garage about 60 feet away. The moment it saw him, it broke into a run.

Luckily, he was close to a pickup truck and scrambled into the bed just in time. For several minutes, the bear circled the truck while my dad yelled for help and pounded on the cab to scare it off. At one point the bear wandered away, only to turn back and charge again before finally losing interest and disappearing behind another row of garages.

My dad made it through without any harm, and is now famous in the neighborhood as the guy who was chased by a bear.

Encounters like this are rare, but they do happen. Knowing how to respond can make all the difference for both your safety and the bear’s.

How to Handle a Florida Black Bear Encounter

My dad's bear encounter happened in a Naples condo parking lot, not the wilderness. But Florida black bears don't read the memo about where they're supposed to be. If you're spending time outdoors here, it's worth knowing what to do before you find yourself scrambling into a truck bed.

• Stay calm and don't run. Running triggers a chase response and bears are significantly faster than you are. Back away slowly, facing the bear the whole time.

• Give it space and make noise. If the bear hasn't spotted you, speak calmly as you back away so you don't startle it. If it has, use a steady, confident voice - clap, talk loudly, make it clear you're human. Don't scream or make sharp, high-pitched sounds. That can escalate things fast.

• Don't make eye contact. Direct staring reads as a challenge. Keep your gaze soft and slightly off to the side while you back away.

• If you're with other people, stay together. A group looks bigger and more intimidating. Stick close and move as one.

• Don't drop your food or bags trying to distract it. That just teaches the bear to associate people with a free meal, which creates problems for the next person who crosses its path.

• Don't try to shoo it away like it's a stray dog. It isn't.

What actually helps:

If you're near a vehicle like my dad was, get in, or get on top if getting in isn't an option. Put something solid between you and the bear while you wait it out. Bears are curious and persistent but usually move on.

A Florida black bear in the wild is a genuinely remarkable thing to see. My dad might not agree, but from a safe distance and with a little luck, it's the kind of encounter you'll be telling people about for years.