CRESTVIEW — Angela Livingston lives in Rolling Pines Townhomes with her husband, Willie, and son, Antryun Coleman.
Her daughter, Lakaron Thomas, lives in a nearby residence with her 3- and 6-year-old sons.
And both households have no patience for some recent unexpected guests: four black bears reportedly roaming in the Redstone Avenue area.
Friday, around 12:30 p.m., Thomas returned to her Crooked Pine Trail home to pick up her garbage can. "When she got out her car, the bear came out of the woods and approached her," Livingston said. "The bear took my daughter's entire garbage can into the woods."
Saturday, around 4 a.m., Coleman encountered the animals at his parents' Swaying Pine Court home. "He heard a little huff as he was walking to his car," Livingston said. "There were two cubs behind my son's car parked in our driveway."
Eyewitnesses said they spotted three cubs and a mother in the southern part of Crestview.
Ashley Hinshaw said Friday on the News Bulletin's Facebook page that her dog encountered a bear.
Janna Brittain said on Facebook that she noticed signs of bear activity in Redstone Estates. "The other day, my garbage can was turned over and a bag of garbage dragged into the woods behind my home."
"I saw (a bear) in Countryview Estates a couple weeks ago," Crystal Taylor said, referring to the subdivision off PJ Adams Parkway. "It was a cub."
After one sighting, Livingston contacted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
"Don't put anything in your trash, because if (bears) came to your trash and got something out before, they'll continue coming," she said of the advice she received. "Well, what are we gonna do? Keep (garbage) in our houses? Keep it in our garages?"
Bears are considered nuisance wildlife, according to the FWC, which recommends removing the "attractant" — trash or easily accessible food — before taking the last resort : trapping such animals.
"Basically, everyone said the same thing: We can come and scare them out of your yard, but we won't attempt to capture them because we don't want to hurt them," Livingston said. "It came across as if the bears had more rights than we did … that wasn't good enough for us."
But she was pleased with the Crestview Police Department, which on Monday verified the sighting. Shortly afterward, the FWC placed a couple of traps in the area, according to Crestview Police Lt. Edward DeCoste.
One trap is in an area between Crooked Pine Trail and Redstone Avenue, according to FWC spokesperson Bekah Nelson. Another is set near Majestic Prince Court.
Still, Livingston and her family are taking precautions. "We've been trying to get in before dark and keep the porch lights on," she said.
Livingston remains hopeful for resolution.
"I don't want to see (the bears) harmed, but if it comes down to our children and the other residents, then I'm more for our humans' safety."
News Bulletin editorial assistant Renee Bell contributed to this report.
"Presently, garbage is by far the biggest bear attractant in Florida. The calories a bear can consume by picking through one garbage can often surpasses the forage they can find in an entire day."
Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website
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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview bear sightings — mama and three cubs — raise concerns