A Longwood family is mourning the loss of their rabbits after a bear broke into their backyard and ate their cherished pets.

It happened early Sunday morning in Longwood’s Vestavia neighborhood and it’s something that’s causing residents to be extra cautious.

AJ Monte said a huge black bear killed the rabbits just after 3 a.m. His neighbor heard a crash, saw the bear, but didn’t think anything of it because bears are so common.  It wasn’t until the next morning when Monte went outside and saw the damage that he knew his family pets were killed.

“Black bears normally don’t eat live [animals], they’ll scavenge – they’re opportunists. This particular bear actually hunted even though it was a contained animal, it went for a live animal,” said Monte.

Florida Fish and Wildlife officials, however, say black bears do, indeed, eat live animals, and recommend securing domesticated animals with electric fences to protect them from bears.

The bear sightings are getting more frequent in the neighborhood. The bears are getting closer — and bigger.

Cell phone video Monte took last week shows a massive black bear in front of his truck in his driveway. He's not sure if that is the bear that killed his rabbits.

The bears appear to be getting into backyards by walking down a trail behind the houses. Many of the bears are breaking through gates and squeezing through any open spaces they can to get food.

“You don’t understand how powerful they are until you see them literally break a two and half-inch branch off a tree like it’s a toothpick.”

Florida Fish and Wildlife has placed a baited cage in the front yard of Monte’s home to try and catch the massive bear.

Neighbors said seeing the animals is very common, even in garages, but Sunday morning’s violent attack on the rabbits raises some red flags.

“I think it’s frightening. Probably because they have less to eat so they’re being more aggressive. We see them quite a bit,” said Judy Diaz, who saw the bear attack the rabbits early Sunday morning.

Monte said he has cans of Bear repellant spray and always carries a flashlight with him. Once a bear was even sitting at his front door.

Neighbors said they see the most bears on Sunday nights – after the trash has been placed outside by the curb for Monday morning’s pick-up.