Bear swims off Florida coast as crowd of beachgoers watches. ‘Guess he’s on vacation’
A black bear was seen swimming off the Gulf Coast in a wild scene on a crowded Florida beach.
“I guess he’s on vacation too,” a person can be heard saying in a video shared in a Facebook post Sunday, June 11.
The moment was captured on camera in Destin, a town in the Florida Panhandle known for its fishing and beachfront.
Jennifer Majors Smith told AL.com she was visiting when the mysterious creature was spotted in the water.
“At first no one on shore could tell what it was in the ocean,” Smith told the news outlet. “A man was yelling out ‘Bear!’ You would expect ‘shark or dolphin’ but not bear.”
Videos posted online show the bear’s ears emerging above the surface of the water as the animal paddles its way to shore. Beachgoers are seen lining the sand as the bear runs off, past beach umbrellas and chairs before reaching the dunes.
“Never have I ever….seen a black bear swim up out of the Gulf Coast and onto the beach (and I’m originally from Pensacola),” Smith wrote on Facebook.
Social media users couldn’t get enough of the videos, which left many surprised. One Facebook user commented, “It’s hot! I don’t blame him!”
What to do if you see a bear
Black bears are found throughout Florida, and people who encounter them are urged to keep their distance, stay calm and back off slowly. Bear attacks in the U.S. are rare, according to the National Park Service. In most attacks, bears are trying to defend their food, cubs or space.
There are steps people can take to help prevent a bear encounter from becoming a bear attack.
Identify yourself: Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. This can help the bear realize you’re a human and nonthreatening.
Stay calm: Bears usually don’t want to attack; they want to be left alone. Talk slowly and with a low voice to the bear.
Don’t scream: Screaming could trigger an attack.
Pick up small children: Don’t let kids run away from the bear. It could think they’re small prey.
Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said. Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people.
Make yourself look big: Move to higher ground and stand tall. Don’t make any sudden movements.
Don’t drop your bag: A bag on your back can keep a bear from accessing food, and it can provide protection.
Walk away slowly: Move sideways so you appear less threatening to the bear. This also lets you keep an eye out.
Again, don’t run: Bears will chase you, just like a dog would.
Don’t climb trees: Grizzlies and black bears can also climb.
This story was originally published June 12, 2023 at 9:51 AM with the headline "Bear swims off Florida coast as crowd of beachgoers watches. ‘Guess he’s on vacation’."
