Betsy knight helped this bear recover two years ago. Also increasing are the number of times people see a bear. In and around the ocala national forest people are now four times as likely to meet up with one. Some bears are even going right into peoples yards. State wildlife officials aren't as a surprised as some residents.
New development means people are now moving into bear country.
More people are moving out into the rural area's because they want to enjoy nature. With more forest lands disappearing because of increasing development and construction there's likely to be more and more contact between bears and humans. This has led some to say Florida needs to bring back the bear hunting season. The state banned bear hunting in 1994. Some members of the fish and wildlife commission want to reverse the ban.