SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. (WFLA) — A park in Pinellas County is shut down this week after reports of a black bear sighting. While the real-life bear is still on the lam, it appears to have found a home – on social media.
A new Twitter account, SafetyHarborBear, popped up Thursday morning under the handle @PinellasBear.
“I’m a bear. I’m on the move. What else is there?” the account description reads, along with #SafetyHarborBear.
The account has been poking fun at the reports and tweets about Tuesday’s bear sighting.
According to Pinellas County officials, a park ranger spotted the black bear in Philippe Park on Tuesday. The bear had previously been spotted in Safety Harbor, according to the county.
Philippe Park was initially going to be shut down until Friday as Pinellas County deputies, park staff and Florida Fish and Wildlife officials worked together to search for the bear. But county officials then decided to reopen the park at noon Thursday because the bear was spotted several miles away.
The new bear account tweeted at the county Thursday morning to let them know “I’m safe.”
“Just living my best life and enjoying my new waterfront home,” the bear wrote.
The county responded, “We are glad you are living your best life and new scenery. We just want to have a nice, relaxing conversation. @MyFWC We’ll bring the snacks.”
The FWC says it received reports Thursday of two verified sightings of the bear moving “in the direction of a more suitable habitat.”
