A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman has confirmed a rural Lady Lake man’s claim that he shot a bear at his home earlier this week.
Victor Peters called a Lake County 911 dispatcher early Wednesday morning after hearing a noise from his sunroom. He discovered that a bear had snatched a half a bag of dog food and left.
But several hours later the bear, estimated to be more than 400 pounds, returned.
This time when the bear entered the sunroom, Peters was armed with a rifle and shot the bear.
The FWC is investigating the incident and a necropsy of the bear will be conducted.
There have been five reported bear sightings in Lady Lake so far this year, said FWC spokesman Greg Workman. There were a total of five bear sightings in 2013. There were nine reports in 2012.
