Expand / Collapse search
☰

Bear spends day in tree near Markham Woods Middle School, feet away from carpool lane

By
Published  March 24, 2025 6:00pm EDT
News
FOX 35 Orlando

Bear spends day in tree near Florida middle school

A bear that spent the better part of Monday in a tree near a Seminole County middle school, came down after about nine hours and headed into some nearby woods.

The Brief

    • A bear that spent the better part of Monday in a tree near a Seminole County middle school, came down after about nine hours and headed into some nearby woods.
    • Parents picking up students were surprised but largely unfazed, as bear sightings are common in the area.
    • The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has been contacted to address the bear’s presence.

LAKE MARY, Fla. - After at least eight hours in a tree outside Markham Woods Middle School, a black bear finally climbed down.

'If they stay in their lane, we stay in ours'

What we know:

A bear has been perched in a tree near Markham Woods Middle School in Lake Mary since the morning. The bear appeared restless as it shifted around in the tree. 

As of late afternoon, it remained in place, even as students were dismissed just after 4 p.m. Local law enforcement monitored the situation, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) was contacted. A school employee was also seen keeping an eye on the bear’s movements.

Bear spotted in tree near Seminole County middle school

A bear has been perched in a tree near Markham Woods Middle School in Lake Mary since the morning.

Just before 5:30 p.m. on Monday, the juvenile black bear carefully scaled down the tree and headed safely into the woods.

The bear had been in the tree since the early morning and seemingly began to grow restless close to pickup time for students.

What we don't know:

Authorities have not confirmed why the bear climbed the tree. It is unclear what steps FWC will take to handle the situation or if there have been any previous reports of this bear in the area. 

The backstory:

Lake Mary and surrounding areas are known for frequent bear sightings, as local wildlife often roams near residential neighborhoods. Residents are accustomed to encounters with bears, which typically do not pose a threat unless provoked. The presence of a bear near a school, however, has prompted closer monitoring.

What they're saying:

Parents were waiting in the carpool pickup line just feet away.

"I didn’t know it was still there," said Kelly Morocco. "That’s crazy! I definitely didn’t know it was right there!"

Mocorro was picking up her daughter. She said she received a text from the school early that morning but didn’t realize how close the animal was to the school entrance.

Stacey Jones, who was also picking up her daughter, was unphased by the bear.

"We live around bears all the time; they don’t seem to be real aggressive," Jones said. "They stay in their lane; we stay in ours… and I think we can all cohabitate together."

Dimitri Kioukis pulled over to see what all the fuss was about. When he saw the bear, he too, said he was not shocked.

"We had a mom and two cubs outside of our house a couple days ago," Kioukis said. "We’ve lived by them for years, safely."

Big picture view:

Wildlife sightings near schools and populated areas highlight ongoing interactions between Florida’s growing communities and its native animal populations. While bears are not uncommon in Lake Mary, their proximity to schools and public spaces raises concerns about safety and appropriate response measures. The involvement of local authorities and FWC indicates a coordinated effort to handle such incidents without harm to residents or wildlife.

Dig deeper:

This latest bear encounter is happening as FWC’s May commission meeting draws closer. Commissioners are slated to vote on the future of a bear hunt. The issue is controversial. If approved, it would be the first permitted bear hunt in Florida in 10 years.

Florida’s last bear hunt in 2015 was scheduled to last a week, but was called off by FWC after two days, because in the first 48 hours, hunters killed more than 300 bears.

FWC estimates Florida’s bear population was once well over 11,000, it is now closer to 4,000.

STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO:

The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Seminole County Schools, and the Seminole County Sheriff's Office.

NewsWild NatureEducation