Скачать или смотреть Sunnyhill Restoration Area: West Tract

Marion County, FL
Ever have a bear walk in front of you while your face is in the camera filming a turkey?
I slightly sensed something move, and expected maybe a deer. Oddly enough as the bear was walking away, scaring the turkey off, a deer did snort off to my side, so there was a lot going on. My focus was on the bear at this point. It didn't look directly at me. More like it looked across the path in front of me, then walked down the trail before me. Once it ducked off trail, I waited several minutes, as I had to continue down the trail behind it. Either that or go home. This part of the trail was the only access to the back half of the park.
Problem is, once I got going again, the bear came back out, and eventually started coming closer. At this point I had to make sure this rather large(for Florida) Black Bear was aware of my presence. It didn't like being interrupted. I could tell it didn't want to leave. It wanted to keep scenting the trees and bushes. So much so that it hissed at me before it gave up and headed off into the forest. I was a bit nervous about having to pass this spot again on the way out, but I knew how rare it was to see a bear, and having it happen twice in a day seemed really far fetched. I did not see the bear again.

I did see some other interesting things. There were woodpeckers, big oak trees, deer, palmettos, spiders, hawks, small birds, flowers, insects, the Ocklawaha River, and gopher tortoise dens. There were also road signs, which I guess explains why when I look at this property on google maps, it looks developed. The plans must have fallen through because nature has reclaimed where the roads would have gone.
Another thing I found odd was the ground was crunchy right off the bat. I normally start my hikes at sunrise and there's usually dew on the ground, making my steps much quieter than they are later in the day. Not the case this day.