Current:Home > MarketsVideo shows bear cubs native to Alaska found wandering 3,614 miles away — in Florida-LoTradeCoin
Video shows bear cubs native to Alaska found wandering 3,614 miles away — in Florida
View Date:2024-12-23 16:41:04
A Florida deputy came upon a strange sight when responding to a recent call in Baker County at 3:30 in the morning.
A man said that he spotted two bear cubs on the side of the road that didn't look like black bears native to the area. When the deputy arrived on scene, she met the man and the bears, who were looking to explore.
"They want to check out everything. They're completely friendly," the unidentified man can be heard saying.
Video shared by the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office shows the encounter, including the bears approaching the deputy and man, and climbing on their cars.
The deputy and man both speculated that the animals were brown bears or grizzly bears. According to the sheriff's office, those thoughts were correct: The animals were Kodiak cubs, a unique subspecies.
They're also native to Alaska - which meant the cubs found by sheriff's office were about 3,614 miles away from home.
The deputy contacted Florida Fish and Wildlife, who were able to transport the cubs to a secure location for safekeeping. The agency also launched an investigation into how the cubs came to be in Florida. The sheriff's office said that they chose not to share the video of the encounter, which happened on Dec. 5, until the investigation was completed.
Florida Fish and Wildlife determined that the bears had escaped from "an inadequate enclosure at a residence on Old River Road where a self-proclaimed bear trainer lives," according to the sheriff's office. That resident, who was not identified by the sheriff's office, now faces "various Florida wildlife violations" related to the investigation's findings.
According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the bears live exclusively on the Kodiak Archipelago in Alaska, and have been isolated from other bears for over a millennium. There are about 3,500 such bears in the area. Kodiaks are larger than brown or grizzly bears, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and male bears of the species can be over 10 feet tall when standing on their hind legs.
- In:
- Florida
- Alaska
- Animal Rescue
Kerry Breen is a reporter and news editor at CBSNews.com. A graduate of New York University's Arthur L. Carter School of Journalism, she previously worked at NBC News' TODAY Digital. She covers current events, breaking news and issues including substance use.
TwitterveryGood! (713)
Related
- Arkansas governor unveils $102 million plan to update state employee pay plan
- 'Color Purple' star Danielle Brooks can't stop talking like Oprah: 'I didn't even notice!'
- Trump back on ballot in Colorado while state Republicans appeal ban to Supreme Court
- Idaho murders house being demolished today
- FBI offers up to $25,000 reward for information about suspect behind Northwest ballot box fires
- 'Color Purple' star Danielle Brooks can't stop talking like Oprah: 'I didn't even notice!'
- What looked like a grenade caused a scare at Oregon school. It was a dog poop bag dispenser.
- White House upholds trade ban on Apple Watches after accusations of patent infringement
- US overdose deaths are down, giving experts hope for an enduring decline
- Workers in New England states looking forward to a bump up in minimum wages in 2024
Ranking
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a long record of promoting anti-vaccine views
- AP Week in Pictures: Global | Dec.22-Dec.28, 2023
- Massachusetts lottery winner chooses $390,000 over $25,000-per-year, for life
- Texans quarterback CJ Stroud says he'll start vs. Titans after recovering from concussion
- Judge weighs the merits of a lawsuit alleging ‘Real Housewives’ creators abused a cast member
- France heightens security for New Year’s Eve, with 90,000 police officers to be mobilized
- Out of office? Not likely. More than half of Americans worked while on vacation in 2023
- Powerball grows to $760 million ahead of the Dec. 27 drawing. See winning numbers
Recommendation
-
Pistons' Ausar Thompson cleared to play after missing 8 months with blood clot
-
Navalny confirms he's in Arctic penal colony and says he's fine
-
Mikaela Shiffrin closes out 2023 with a huge victory for 93rd career win
-
Matthew McConaughey Shares Rare Photo of Son Livingston in 11th Birthday Tribute
-
Powerball winning numbers for November 11 drawing: Jackpot hits $103 million
-
A number away from $137 million, Michigan man instead wins $1 million in Mega Millions game
-
We Dare You Not to Get Baby Fever Looking at All of These Adorable 2023 Celebrity Babies
-
French man arrested for allegedly killing wife and 4 young children on Christmas: An absolute horror