From quiet neighborhoods disrupted by wild encounters to mysterious sightings, this year was filled with wild animal stories that left residents in Central Florida talking. Here’s a look at some of the top animal stories of 2025: Swan leads Florida police on chase on busy Orlando highway — March 7 A swan took police on a wild chase in March on a busy Orlando highway.Highway cameras captured the entire incident.After a bit of a chase and the closure of all eastbound lanes near Bumby Avenue, the bird was captured.Woman accused of drowning dog in airport bathroom — March 30A Central Florida woman was arrested after allegedly killing her dog and leaving it in a bathroom at Orlando International Airport in 2024.Alison Lawrence didn’t have the required paperwork to board the dog and was told she could not take Tywinn with her.The Orlando Police Department said officers responded to the airport on Dec. 16 about a dead animal found by an employee inside the women’s restroom.Officers were taken to a trash bag where dog accessories and the dead dog were found.Man killed trying to save turtle on Florida Interstate — July 7A 77-year-old man was killed after he was hit by a car while trying to rescue a turtle on Interstate 95 in Sebastian, the Florida Highway Patrol said.Troopers said the 77-year-old man from Vermont was walking across I-95 trying to save a turtle while a driver tried to slow down to avoid hitting the man, but lost control after being hit by another car behind them.As a result, the driver hit the 77-year-old man before crashing into a fence off I-95.Florida woman dragged underwater by 11-foot gator — July 22A 27-year-old woman was hospitalized after surviving a gator attack while swimming in the St. Lucie River in July.The woman was standing in waist-deep water with her dog when the approximately 11-foot alligator bit the woman’s hand. The alligator quickly pulled her underwater before releasing her.She suffered multiple broken bones and lacerations to her right hand and right wrist.Raccoons invade Merritt Island home, cause chaos — Aug. 17Raccoons invaded a Merritt Island household in August, scaring their cats and causing chaos.The raccoons entered and exited their screened porch, ate the cat food, and overturned all the water bowls. Orlando woman, 70, bites pit bull to save her dog from attack — Sept. 1 Shirley Pasamanick was leaving the store when a pit bull bolted toward her 14-year-old dog, Sparky, and latched onto him.She used her cane and her hands to pry the dog off. When that didn’t work, she said, she resorted to biting the pit bull on the back of its neck.Sparky survived the attack but is still shaken. Bear shot dead in bathroom after causing chaos in Florida home — Sept. 19A quiet rural neighborhood turned into a scene of chaos when a bear broke into a home and was shot dead inside the bathroom.The bear wandered through a garage door, which then automatically shut behind it, trapping the animal inside the home.The bear, desperate and panicked, made its way through another door into the home. That door led straight into the living room.Fearing for his family’s safety, the homeowner grabbed his gun.Nearly 50 birds crushed to death by Central Florida truck driver — Oct. 13The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission launched an investigation after a truck driver was accused of running over nearly 50 birds in Brevard County.The report explained that a person drove a truck through a large group of birds, killing 35 at the scene, while 13 others were euthanized due to injuries.Only one bird survived.Central Florida porch pirate turns out to be a bear — Dec. 22 A bear was seen in Longwood as it looked through packages on a porch, but walked away without taking anything. The incident was captured on camera, showing the bear’s brief inspection before it left unimpressed.
Central Florida —
From quiet neighborhoods disrupted by wild encounters to mysterious sightings, this year was filled with wild animal stories that left residents in Central Florida talking.
Here’s a look at some of the top animal stories of 2025:
Swan leads Florida police on chase on busy Orlando highway — March 7
A swan took police on a wild chase in March on a busy Orlando highway.
Highway cameras captured the entire incident.
After a bit of a chase and the closure of all eastbound lanes near Bumby Avenue, the bird was captured.
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You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Woman accused of drowning dog in airport bathroom — March 30
A Central Florida woman was arrested after allegedly killing her dog and leaving it in a bathroom at Orlando International Airport in 2024.
Alison Lawrence didn’t have the required paperwork to board the dog and was told she could not take Tywinn with her.
The Orlando Police Department said officers responded to the airport on Dec. 16 about a dead animal found by an employee inside the women’s restroom.
Officers were taken to a trash bag where dog accessories and the dead dog were found.
This content is imported from YouTube.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Man killed trying to save turtle on Florida Interstate — July 7
A 77-year-old man was killed after he was hit by a car while trying to rescue a turtle on Interstate 95 in Sebastian, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
Troopers said the 77-year-old man from Vermont was walking across I-95 trying to save a turtle while a driver tried to slow down to avoid hitting the man, but lost control after being hit by another car behind them.
As a result, the driver hit the 77-year-old man before crashing into a fence off I-95.
This content is imported from YouTube.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Florida woman dragged underwater by 11-foot gator — July 22
A 27-year-old woman was hospitalized after surviving a gator attack while swimming in the St. Lucie River in July.
The woman was standing in waist-deep water with her dog when the approximately 11-foot alligator bit the woman’s hand. The alligator quickly pulled her underwater before releasing her.
She suffered multiple broken bones and lacerations to her right hand and right wrist.
Raccoons invade Merritt Island home, cause chaos — Aug. 17
Raccoons invaded a Merritt Island household in August, scaring their cats and causing chaos.
The raccoons entered and exited their screened porch, ate the cat food, and overturned all the water bowls.
This content is imported from YouTube.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Orlando woman, 70, bites pit bull to save her dog from attack — Sept. 1
Shirley Pasamanick was leaving the store when a pit bull bolted toward her 14-year-old dog, Sparky, and latched onto him.
She used her cane and her hands to pry the dog off. When that didn’t work, she said, she resorted to biting the pit bull on the back of its neck.
Sparky survived the attack but is still shaken.
This content is imported from YouTube.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Bear shot dead in bathroom after causing chaos in Florida home — Sept. 19
A quiet rural neighborhood turned into a scene of chaos when a bear broke into a home and was shot dead inside the bathroom.
The bear wandered through a garage door, which then automatically shut behind it, trapping the animal inside the home.
The bear, desperate and panicked, made its way through another door into the home. That door led straight into the living room.
Fearing for his family’s safety, the homeowner grabbed his gun.
This content is imported from YouTube.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Nearly 50 birds crushed to death by Central Florida truck driver — Oct. 13
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission launched an investigation after a truck driver was accused of running over nearly 50 birds in Brevard County.
The report explained that a person drove a truck through a large group of birds, killing 35 at the scene, while 13 others were euthanized due to injuries.
Only one bird survived.
This content is imported from YouTube.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Central Florida porch pirate turns out to be a bear — Dec. 22
A bear was seen in Longwood as it looked through packages on a porch, but walked away without taking anything.
The incident was captured on camera, showing the bear’s brief inspection before it left unimpressed.