Bear terrifies Florida beachgoers after taking a dip in the ocean

12 June 2023 , 19:55

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A bear spooked beachgoers in Destin, Florida, on Sunday (Image: Getty Images)

Encountering marine life isn't uncommon for beachgoers taking a dip in the waters off of the Florida coast.

But sunbathers in Destin, Florida, had a run-in with something a bit more out of the ordinary on Sunday.

Beachgoers were shocked when a black bear emerged from the Gulf of Mexico after it had been basking in the waves to escape the scorching 88-degree (31 degrees Celsius) sun.

It swam right past dozens of bathers, including several children, before barreling up the beach, narrowly missing several chairs and umbrellas.

Then it disappeared into some nearby sand dunes.

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Black bears are common in the state — the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission estimates that more than 4,000 live in the region.

It isn't uncommon for bears to take a dip in freshwater bodies to bathe or cool off (Getty Images/500px)

And the animals are good swimmers, too, according to National Geographic, able to paddle for at least a mile and a half (2.4 km) in freshwater.

BBC Wildlife said one was believed to have swum nine miles along the Gulf coast.

Still, seeing a bear swimming in the ocean was shocking for many beachgoers.

Several posted videos of the incident, like Pensacola resident Jennifer Majors Smith.

"Never have I ever….seen a black bear swim up out of the Gulf Coast and onto the beach," she wrote on Facebook.

Charter boat Captain Chris Kirby told AL.com, however, that bears swimming in the ocean isn't that extraordinary of an occurrence.

"There are a lot of bears at Eglin Air Force Base," he said. "They swim across the bay. Sometimes they go for a joy swim.”

A couple of Facebook users commenting on Smith's post expressed concern for the animal's well-being.

"What the heck. I hope they saved the poor thing," wrote Vicki Fields.

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"Did it survive?" Robert Alires asked.

Twitter user @gydyup wrote that he feared people would kill the animal.

"Poor tired bear and all those humans. I bet one of them couldn’t resist killing it," he Tweeted. "If not hope he’s safe."

It is unclear what happened to the bear after it fled the beach.

No sunbathers were harmed by the animal.

Jeremiah Hassel