The largest black bear ever captured in Florida has been relocated after being trapped near Paisley.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) spokeswoman Joy Hill said the 620-pound bear was captured on Monday. It had been getting into trash in the Ocala National Forest.

“This bear was so used to getting into trash that even after the garbage was secured in a shed, he returned and pulled the aluminum siding off to get at his free meal,” the FWC said on its web site, in announcing the capture.

FWC bear trapper Mike Connolly set the trap that caught the bruin near Paisley. Before the bear was relocated on Wednesday, biologists Mike Orlando and Dave Turner were able to sedate him to collect hair samples and give him an exam, identification tattoo and ear tag.

Hill says this is the largest bear captured, but the largest documented black bear was a 624-pounder that was struck and killed by a car in Naples several years ago.

“Bears that habitually feed on human-supplied foods such as garbage and wildlife feed or pet food can become abnormally large because of the high number of calories found in these food sources,” the FWC said.

Wildlife officials estimate there are 3,500 black bears in Florida.
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