Authorities in Spanish Fort are urging residents to exercise caution after reports of a bear was sighted in the area.

The Spanish Fort Police Department said on social media that a black bear was spotted near Bromley Road last Friday, stating that while bears are generally harmless and tend to avoid interacting with people, they advise residents to take the following steps to stay safe and not attract bears:

• Secure pet food: Bring pet food and bowls inside at night to avoid attracting bears.
• Remove deer feeders outside, at least temporarily.
• Store trash properly: All trash cans should be tightly secured and not left outside overnight.
• Do not feed or shoot: It is illegal to feed or harm wildlife in the area.
• Keep children safe: Educate your children on how to stay away from bears and to avoid approaching them.

The alert from the Spanish Fort Police Department comes days after a man in Gulf Breeze, Florida, was injured by a bear in the early morning hours in the backyard of a home. He would end up being hospitalized after suffering a bite to his leg.