In central Florida I love in black bear zone. One early evening, I entered the house, and as I closed the door, saw I’d been followed.
Mistaking it for a bear, as it was the largest raccoon I’d ever seen!
I too live in central Florida and have seen quite a bit of wildlife over the years from the backyard: alligators; water moccasins; possums; a Florida panther; otters; bald eagles; giant egrets and blue herons; sandhill cranes — and yes, raccoons, waddling about like fat drunks. No black bears yet. Please, keep them in your part of town.
[... I love in black bear zone...]
As long as the Misses is OK with it. To each their own.