Bears drag Florida woman from her open garage (Video)

A 45-year-old Seminole County woman is out of the hospital after she was bit in the head by an aggressive 200-pound bear around 8 p.m. Saturday.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers said Terri Frana was walking to her garage at her home in the Carisbrooke subdivision, near Markham Road and Brackenhurst Place. That’s when she saw five bears digging through her garbage bin.

“I am really surprised. I didn’t think a bear would really attack anybody,” said neighbor Argun Valay.

FWC officers filled the streets of the neighborhood searching for the bear and set three traps in the subdivision.

As FWC continues their search for the bear that attacked Frana, they said they have claw marks and blood marks as evidence to make sure they catch the right bear.

They said the safety of residents comes first.

“If we catch this bear and we are 100 percent positive that this bear caused the attack, we will euthanize it,” said FWC Officer Lenny Salberg.
Several bears were spotted Sunday morning, but were scared away by vehicle traffic.

FWC officers armed with tranquilizer guns are combing woods inside the subdivision.

Neighbors said they are now worried for their safety.

“I am a little concerned because I don’t live that far away from here. I am pretty nervous now and kind of afraid,” Valay said.

Residents also said they’ve recently spotted several bears in the area.

“We’ve had a new bear here recently, who is a mama bear, and she has got two small cubs and a lame left foot. It would appear to me that she has three reasons to be aggressive,” Doug Cifers said.

FWC would not comment on the extent of the woman’s injuries because of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

Frana’s husband told WFTV the bear had his wife’s head in its jaws and dragged her 4 feet before she got free.

Residents are urged to contact the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) to report any threatening bear activity.

Agencies/Canadajournal