Florida Black Bear Attempts To Poach Pet Pig From Davenport Yard

DAVENPORT, FL — This was no Yogi attempting to steal a picnic basket. Polk County sheriff's deputies were called to a home Tuesday at 10:22 p.m. in the Loughman area north of Davenport after a Florida black bear attempted to steal a woman's pet pig from her yard.

According to the sheriff's office, the woman who lives in the Tanglewood Preserve subdivision just off of Osceola-Polk Line Road reported that the bear had broken through her vinyl fence and attempted to grab her pet pig.

The pignapping was thwarted by the woman. By the time deputies arrived, the bear was gone.

While the resident repaired the fence, deputies stood by in case the bear made a second attempt to poach the pig. decided to make a second attempt to poach the pig.

After the fence was repaired, deputies contacted several other residents to alert them to the bear’s actions.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the bear's actions are somewhat unusual.

Bears are considered omnivores because they eat both plant and animals, but a Florida black bear's diet usually consists of 73 percent plants, 22 percent wasps, bees, termites and ants, and 5 percent animal matter, often leftover meal that's thrown in the trash or carrion such as armadillos or opossums.

During the summer months, bears eat about 5,000 calories a day or the equivalent of two large cheese pizzas.

However, there have been instances when bears, especially the larger males, have preyed on feral pigs, domestic goats, turtles, birds, alligator eggs, fish, rabbits, raccoons and even white-tailed deer, said the FWC.

However, Florida black bears, unlike their northern cousins, are generally small, about 100 to 140 pounds although a 760-pound bear was found in Seminole County in 2015.

As a precaution, the sheriff's office advises residents to keep their trash cans securely covered and keep an eye out on pets released in their backyards.