A bear roamed St. Augustine’s historic streets, climbing trees and hopping fences early Tuesday morning.
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — On Tuesday morning, the residents of Downtown St. Augustine witnessed an unusual scene: a black bear wandering down the city’s historic avenues, scaling trees, and even leaping over a fence, all captured on video.
Footage released by the St. Augustine Police Department reveals the bear making its way across a street before skillfully vaulting over a white fence on St. George Street.
Police and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) monitored the bear as it made its way out of the area without incident.
“It’s been quite an eventful day at the Peña-Peck House,” remarked Brooke Gast, president of the Women’s Exchange of St. Augustine. “While this is one of the city’s oldest residences, I can’t confidently say anything like this has ever occurred here before. It’s quite special that he chose to visit this particular location.”
Gast said she woke up to a flood of texts and videos from friends and board members, all documenting the bear’s scenic tour through downtown.
“All guests are always welcome here at the Peña-Peck House — some maybe at different hours than others,” Gast said.
The bear’s adventure didn’t stop there. Witnesses reported the animal even made a brief appearance at a local preschool’s water day, delighting and startling children and staff alike.
St. Augustine Beach Mayor Dylan Rumrell said the bear was likely just passing through.
“The bear was probably looking for his necessities,” Rumrell said. “It’s just another tourist in St. Augustine. I’m just thankful he didn’t swim across the intercoastal and end up in my jurisdiction.”
Leah Yawn, who lives in nearby Nocatee, said wildlife encounters are becoming more common as Florida continues to grow.
“I was coming home and got on the phone with my wife…. I go, ‘Oh my gosh. I swear that’s a bear in our backyard.’ She’s like, ‘What?’ And I go, ‘Yeah, no, he’s so big, and he’s like black. That’s either the biggest armadillo or possum I’ve ever seen, or that’s a bear.’”
Yawn said the experience was a reminder to stay alert.
“It’s just like stepping out in Africa, you know, on a safari,” Yawn added. “You just got to be aware of your surroundings.”
FWC officials say black bear sightings increase in the spring as young bears leave their mothers in search of new territory.
“Seeing a bear in a neighborhood is not necessarily cause for alarm,” the agency said in a statement. “If a bear is not able to find food and is given space, it will move on.”
FWC recommends securing garbage, removing food attractants, and keeping pets on a short leash. Residents are urged not to approach or feed bears, and to contact authorities if a bear is spotted.
Gast expressed gratitude for the quick response by local authorities.
“Officer Ortega and his team, we could not be more grateful for everything that you do for us all the time,” she said.
For more information on living with Florida wildlife, visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s website or call their Wildlife Alert Hotline.
