Photo: Tampa International Airport
A bear was captured after it wandered onto the outskirts of Tampa International Airport in Florida. Officials said the bear climbed a fence and was spotted walking near an employee parking lot.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission worked with employees at the airport to set up a perimeter around the area so they could trap the juvenile black bear. They patiently waited as the bear continued to wander the area while they tracked its movement using infrared cameras.
After sleeping within the perimeter, the bear was eventually trapped on Wednesday (June 14) morning. Officials said that the bear never posed a threat to employees or travelers and did not impact operations at the airport.
“Thanks to these critical efforts, there was no risk to any employees or disruptions to Airport operations,” TPA Executive Vice President of Operations John Tiliacos said.
After the bear was captured, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission released it in the Ocala National Forest.