A black bear swam and interacted with people at a crowded Florida beach on the Gulf Coast.
People vacationing over the weekend, Sunday, June 11, were stunned to see a bear swimming at Destin Beach, known for its wide, sandy beaches and proximity to Destin Harbor, The Miami Herald reported.
WATCH: Video shows beachgoers amazed to see a black bear swimming alongside them in Destin, Florida pic.twitter.com/yBBsLhgDfO
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) June 12, 2023
It is unknown how the bear ended up in the water, who first noticed it, and where it came from, but video footage shows the bear retreating after people were amazed to see a lone bear, which appears to be cub-sized, enjoying the water.
According to most weather forecasts, the weather in Destin, Fla., peaked at 87 degrees, which may explain why the bear went for a swim.
Aside from hunting, evading, or traveling, bears swim for recreation and are excellent swimmers.
According to Captain Kirby, who hails from the Gulf Coast, witnessing bears swimming in the Gulf of Mexico is a common occurrence and not particularly unusual.
“Everybody’s just got cell phones now and they get pictures,” he said, AL reported. “There are a lot of bears at Eglin Air Force Base. They swim across the bay. Sometimes they go for a joy swim.”
“He made it to the shore and took off,” he added.
Kirby is right, black bears are common in Destin and should be avoided if spotted.
Black bears are generally shy and tend to avoid people on their own, but they can become more aggressive if they feel threatened or are protecting their cubs.
The Miami Herald advises readers who see a wild black bear in public to wave their arms slowly, remain calm, secure their food, resist the urge to scream, protect children and appear larger than usual. It is also important to never approach the bear and to give the bear plenty of room to move.
