Apopka family has photo shoot with visiting black bear

Black bear gets online attention after photo shoot

APOPKA, Fla. – A family in an Orange County neighborhood had an unexpected visitor this week.

When a hungry black bear showed up at their home, the family decided to do a photo shoot with it. Now the bear is becoming a bit of an internet celebrity. 

Dustin Radney, who was the photographer in the eventful shoot, said the bear was not the neighborhood guest he was expecting, but he didn’t seem to mind. 

[PICTURES: Apopka neighborhood bear encounter]

"Just a bear hanging out in the neighborhood - a 400 pound bear," Radney said while showing video of the bear toppling over a trash can. 

Radney’s sense of humor and commentary while reacting to the bear’s visit seems to be what got people talking online.

“This is what's wrong with nature today—They don't eat healthy,” Radney said jokingly while showing video of the bear eating leftovers from the trash can. “That's why they're so fat. They're obese.”

Radney also Photoshopped his son onto the bear and even created a possible Christmas card with one of his neighbors.

“It was really entertaining. He was just chilling and eating some trash, and after he was done eating the trash, he took about an hour nap,” Radney said.

In addition to the Orange County deputies who were monitoring the bear’s behavior, Radney said his family and neighbors stayed about 50 yards away from it. 

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reminded people not to approach a bear. FWC officials also asked residents to try to secure trash and only put it out when necessary, as bears stock up on calories as winter approaches. 


About the Author

It has been an absolute pleasure for Clay LePard living and working in Orlando since he joined News 6 in July 2017. Previously, Clay worked at WNEP TV in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he brought viewers along to witness everything from unprecedented access to the Tobyhanna Army Depot to an interview with convicted double-murderer Hugo Selenski.