This sighting comes days after a debate was sparked when a giant black animal was spotted by KENS 5 News Director Jack Acosta while hiking at Friedrich Main Loop.
ZAPATA COUNTY, Texas — Just days after a heated debate was sparked on social media when KENS 5 News Director Jack Acosta spotted a large, unidentified black animal while hiking at Friedrich Main Loop, another alleged sighting has been reported in Zapata County.
On Aug. 30, Maria Teresa Uribe said she and her father were driving from Laredo to San Ygnacio when they allegedly spotted a black bear in La Perla.
“Initially, due to the distance, I thought it resembled a bear but assumed it was a different animal,” Uribe said. “Driven by curiosity, I turned the vehicle around, and indeed, it was a bear heading towards the river in the direction of Mexico. I hope this bear is safe.”
On Sept. 2, Acosta spotted an animal while out for a hike at Friedrich Main Loop early Tuesday morning. He said the animal moved so quickly it was hard to identify what it could have been. He ran further up the trail hoping to see it from a different perspective, but lost track of it in the process.
It has not been confirmed if the alleged bear is the same one seen in both instances or not.
It did spark a debate online on whether it was a bear or a javelina.
According to TPW, hogs and bears can look very similar. And both are in South Texas.
So how can you identify a bear?
“The black bear is a protected and rare species in the state of Texas. Bears are stocky, large animals, and adults reach a length of 5 to 6 feet, height at the shoulder of 2 to 3 feet, and weigh 90-400 pounds or more, depending on food resources,” said Texas Parks and Wildlife. “Although called a “black” bear, colors can range from black to the occasional cinnamon brown. Front claws are generally longer than hind claws. The fur is long and coarse.”
Texas Parks and Wildlife also shares some tips on what to do if you see a bear:
- Never approach it.
- Bears are normally shy and not aggressive to humans.
- If a bear regularly visits your deer stand, scare it with rocks, a slingshot or air horn.
- If you encounter a bear at close range, talk in a calm manner while backing away slowly. Do not make direct eye contact.
- DO NOT RUN! This can trigger a bear’s chase instinct.
- If a bear approaches you, stand your ground and raise your arms, backpack or jacket to appear larger. Yell at the bear to scare it off.
- If attacked, fight back aggressively with anything available. Let the bear know you are not easy prey. Don’t play dead.
On the other hand, the javelina has a piglike snout and a stout little body, but these characteristics are not enough to make it a member of the true pig family. An adult javelina can reach a weight of 55 pounds, stand 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder, and grow to a length of three feet.
“Despite their reputation, javelinas are not usually aggressive toward humans and normally retreat unless cornered or startled,” said TPW.