A 400-pound male black bear died Monday morning after being struck by a vehicle on Southwest Martin Highway near Southwest Warfield Boulevard. The Martin County Sheriff's Office responded to the collision after the driver immediately stopped and reported the incident to authorities.
According to the driver's account to deputies, the bear suddenly ran onto the roadway and was hit by the car. The driver escaped injury in the crash, but the bear was killed at the scene. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission arrived afterward to remove the animal. Road conditions returned to normal shortly after the incident.
The collision underscores the importance of being alert to wildlife that inhabits rural Martin County roads. The sheriff's office noted that animals are particularly active during early morning and evening hours, when drivers should exercise extra caution. The incident marks the second bear encounter on the Treasure Coast within the past month. Earlier in June, a black bear was recorded on camera swimming through a waterway in the Town Park community of Port St. Lucie.
These sightings reflect the ongoing presence of black bears in the region and the need for both drivers and residents to remain vigilant. While fatal wildlife collisions on roadways are serious events, they serve as reminders about coexisting with Florida's animal populations in areas where human development meets natural habitats.