It’s not every day that Americans find themselves face-to-face with a black bear, but in September 2025, encounters with these powerful creatures have made headlines from Florida to Wisconsin. Whether it’s a bear breaking into a suburban home, a family’s food heist caught on camera, a dramatic rescue in the Southwest, or a determined hunter’s once-in-a-lifetime pursuit, these stories offer a vivid snapshot of how bears and humans are crossing paths more than ever.
On September 19, the Clark family of DeLand, Florida, found their routine upended by an uninvited guest. According to Dangerous Minds, Zeke Clark recounted the harrowing moment a bear wandered from nearby woods into his garage. When the door shut behind the bear, panic set in—at least for the animal. "Door shut behind him…. You can tell bear freaked out that a bunch of damage in here because he couldn’t get out. Then he came to this door… bent this door. Got this door open," Clark told WESH. The tense situation escalated as the bear made its way through the house, eventually ending up in the bathroom. Clark acted quickly: "I was able to get the door back open again. I shot one time inside the bathroom. Shut the door again because the bear was trying to get back out, and then finish by shooting two more time." Once the bear was subdued, Clark dragged it out on a tarp, awaiting the arrival of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Remarkably, the home suffered no major damage. "This could’ve been a much worse situation. I’m thankful for that," Clark reflected.
Just a few weeks earlier, in the Smoky Mountains near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, another family’s bear encounter played out with a very different ending. As reported by Knox News, the Schmidt family had just arrived at their Airbnb cabin on August 29 when a mother black bear and her two cubs wandered up to their truck. Kari Schmidt, who filmed the incident, described how the bears made a beeline for the vehicle after apparently catching the scent of food. Her husband, Brian, wisely retreated as the mother bear climbed into the truck bed and made off with a cooler. "Hey, that’s our food!" someone shouted in vain. The bears dragged their prize into the woods, never to be seen again. "Mama bear took that cooler up the road and then down the hill," Kari told Knox News. "After we had everything unpacked, we went back to look, and it was gone."
While these stories might sound like the stuff of tall tales, black bear encounters are becoming increasingly common across the United States. Black bears are omnivores, with diets consisting mostly of berries, fruit, sedges, and insects, but they won’t pass up fish, honeycomb, or a cooler packed with human food. As fall approaches, the City of Gatlinburg has urged residents to avoid using pumpkins, gourds, and other edible decorations that could attract bears. The city’s advice, shared on September 26, is clear: don’t tempt bears into dangerous proximity by leaving food or food-like items outside.
Experts recommend a set of BearWise guidelines for anyone who finds themselves near a black bear. If the bear is indoors or close to a building, it’s best to back away and leave doors open for an easy escape. In yards, making loud noises can help scare the animal away (but only after ensuring pets and people are safe). If you spot a bear in the woods, back away slowly—never run, as this might trigger a chase. And if a bear approaches or charges, use bear spray or, if necessary, fight back; playing dead is not recommended with black bears.
In Arizona, the story took a more tranquil turn. On September 14, Tucson police officers and Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) personnel responded to reports of a bear roaming several neighborhoods, as covered by Newsweek. They tracked the young male black bear to a tree near an apartment complex. The AZGFD tranquilized the animal as it slept, while officers held a tarp below to catch its fall—a dramatic moment captured on video and shared by the Tucson Police Department. Officer Frank Magos confirmed, "The bear, a 2-year-old male, was examined by AZG&F and found to be in good health. It was safely relocated to the mountains." The video quickly went viral, garnering over 500,000 views and sparking a wave of supportive comments online. Viewers expressed relief that the bear was unharmed, despite some concern that the tarp didn’t fully cushion its fall.
Bear sightings in Tucson are not unusual; the AZGFD recorded 13 in the area, relocating four as of early September. Bears often venture into cities in search of food or water, especially when drought, wildfire, or urban expansion reduces their natural resources. To minimize conflicts, the AZGFD recommends feeding pets indoors, removing uneaten food, cleaning up after barbecues, and only setting trash out just before pickup. Bird feeders should be hung high and away from buildings, and feeding should stop entirely if a bear is spotted nearby.
But not all bear encounters end with a rescue or a theft. In Wisconsin, one woman’s brush with a backyard bear led her down an entirely different path. According to NBC 26, Wautoma resident Teri Jo Fendler spotted a black bear in her yard and decided she needed to be prepared should it—or another—return. Despite facing health and mobility challenges, Fendler hired a professional hunting guide near Webster to teach her how to safely hunt bears. Her determination paid off: after a few days of training, she successfully hunted a massive black bear—nearly twice the size of an average 300-pounder. The animal, measuring about nine feet tall, was brought down with a single clean shot from 20 yards away. "Got my bear… one-time experience… and I’m going to quit while I’m ahead," Fendler said. The hide will stretch from floor to ceiling in her home, and some of the meat will be enjoyed as tenderloin. "It still gives me goosebumps. I can’t believe it happened to me," she admitted. Wisconsin’s bear hunting season continues through October 7, 2025, for those interested in learning more about the process.
From suburban Florida to the wilds of Wisconsin, 2025 has proven that black bears are as adaptable—and unpredictable—as ever. Whether they’re searching for food, evading capture, or simply wandering into the wrong backyard, these animals remind us that sharing space with wildlife requires vigilance, respect, and sometimes a little ingenuity.
