THE DAILY WIRE · FLORIDA, USA · 2026-10-20
Fridge Raid in Golden Gate Estates Ends in a Bear With Better Taste Than Expected
In Golden Gate Estates, Florida, a black bear bypassed the leftovers, bypassed the lunch meat, and went straight for an alcoholic beverage, caught on a resident's home security camera in footage this columnist can only describe as deeply relatable.
According to the report, the animal was recorded opening a refrigerator and removing a canned alcoholic drink before departing the property, as outdoor camera systems continue their quiet takeover as the region's de facto wildlife beat reporters. No injuries, arrests, or open-container citations were noted in connection with the bear's exit.
Webster tracked down Wade, a Golden Gate Estates alligator who has logged considerable hours observing the neighborhood's canal-adjacent comings and goings, for his assessment of the incident. His account of events differs from the official record.
This is not, for the record, the first instance of Florida wildlife developing strong opinions about an unattended kitchen. Whether this represents an isolated incident or the opening chapter of a broader appliance-raiding trend remains, as always in this line of work, a developing story.
The refrigerator has since reportedly been closed, though its contents going forward are presumably under new management. Spun and done.
“I've seen that bear cruising porches since spring, used to just raid the recycling bin like a gentleman. Bears can smell through two inches of refrigerator steel, that's not folklore, that's just a strong nose — maybe start locking your doors instead of blaming the wildlife.” — Wade, a Golden Gate Estates alligator
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