TUESDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: The bear has been captured and relocated, according to Gary Morse with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.

No further details were released.

PREVIOUS STORY: Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission finally coaxed down a bear in a tree in a backyard in Winter Haven. 

But the bear ran off into a wooded area.

  • Bear was in Winter Haven neighborhood Monday
  • Black bear, about 120 pounds, up in tree
  • FWC responded, bear came down out of tree last night

It took all day Monday, but the black bear finally climbed down late Monday, just after 10:30 p.m.

FWC crews used a variety of methods to try and coax the bear out of the tree behind a home near Drexel Avenue and Hebb Street. 

A group of home schooled children first spotted this bear this morning near Lake Elbert. The bear ran off and ultimately scampered about 15 feet up into a tree in a backyard. 

Authorities said the black bear was a male and about 120 pounds.

The bear was not trapped by the officers and was last seen running toward the woods.