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Man Dies on Motorcycle Crashing into a Bear

A Florida man is dead after crashing into a black bear in a motorcycle incident.

The man was riding in Marion County, Florida. He was 42 and near the Ocala National Forest when the crash happened.

According to WCJB, a bear was standing in the road and the motorcyclist was unable to maneuver around it in time. He ended up directly colliding with the bear.

When he collided with the bear, he was thrown off the bike and landed nearby on the road. The man was also not wearing a helmet when he crashed. He was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

The bear was also killed in the road collision.

Spectrum News reported that this is the third time since 1998 that a bear-human road collision ended up killing the person as well. These incidents have all been while the person is riding a motorcycle. The vehicle does not provide as much protection from a head-on collision.

Number of Bears Killed in Car Crashes

Bears being hit by cars has been a major headline recently. For example, NPS reported that in the summer of 2020 there were at least four bears that were hit in Yosemite National Park.

The drivers were going faster than the speed limit, which is in place to protect people and possible wildlife. Two of the bears were killed and the others were seriously injured and could have passed away later.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 90% of known bear deaths in Florida are caused by vehicle collisions. It tends to happen near dusk or dawn when bears are most active. There is a continued risk to grizzly bears near the Rocky Mountains. Trains, cars, and poaching all contribute to these high numbers.

Viral Outdoor News

While the motorcyclist, unfortunately, passed away in the fatal accident, other outdoor-enthusiasts have shared their close-call experiences this week.

One is a man who had gone on a walk with his dog in Ozark-St. Francis National Forest in Arkansas. He took a break near a cliffside and looked down, only to discover he was surrounded by small, beady eyes looking up at him.

It turns out he had a large audience of diamondback rattlesnakes, which come out of hibernation at this time of the year. He and his dog were able to escape the area without being bit. The man, Stephen Gossow, only suffered abrasions that happened while he was escaping the area.

It’s a valuable lesson in outdoor safety. He hadn’t told anyone where he was venturing so if something went wrong the situation could have ended much worse.