On social media, many viewers were stunned after a viral video showed Florida tourists shocked by rescuing a bear.
The Florida tourists were shocked by an unusual encounter with a bear from the sea, which has become a common sight
Tourists in Destin, Florida, were left stunned when they discovered they were rescuing a black bear from the Gulf of Mexico, not a large dog.
The unusual encounter took place on a hot 80°F Sunday as the bear swam through the surf.
Tourist’s surprising beach encounter.
On social media, the video was shared by beachgoers, Gil Osterloh showing Florisa tourists shocked after encounter bear from sea.
The video has the caption: “A bear was spotted today in Destin, Florida taking a swim in the Gulf right off of Jade East Towers condominium!
I’ve seen a lot of things in the Gulf growing up here but never this. He made it to shore safely and skedaddled.”
The footage showed onlookers initially mistook the bear for a dog as it splashed through the waves.
Videos shared online show the wild animal emerging from the ocean, shaking off saltwater.
A furrier-than-usual swimmer was cooling off in the Gulf of Mexico, just a few meters from beachgoers. Many of them were unaware of the animal’s true identity until it got closer.
As the bear made its way toward the shore, bystanders shouted in disbelief, “That’s not a dog!”
A woman warned others, “Be careful!” while people edged closer to capture photos of the rare sighting.
The video quicky went viral and left viewers stunned.
The unique encounter left beachgoers shocked. While many feared and ran off the beach, others excitedly filmed the moment in humorous excitement.
One person said: Probably not as shocked as the bear, upon seeing the pasty white bi-ped humans, crowding his style.
A second wrote: That’s a baby lucky black bear swimming in clean not dirty water. I’m jealous I never get a chance to swim in Lake Tahoe crystal clear waters.
While a third commented: Looks like the one who got into our fridge!!! Hope he enjoyed the Italian dinner lol
Another added: Something needs to be done about these bears… their out of control! Lol
The black bear escaped in shock after witnessing beachgoers
After making its way to the beach, the bear appeared startled by the attention.
It quickly weaved past umbrellas and chairs, heading back up the beach and disappearing into the distance.
While it may not have been “on vacation,” as one onlooker humorously suggested, the bear’s presence was a reminder of the wild animals that roam Florida’s shores.
A common sight in Florida: black bears enjoying the beach
While this incident left many tourists in shock, it’s not an uncommon occurrence in Florida.
Captain Chris Kirby, from Charter Boat Backlash, explained that there are many black bears around Eglin Air Force Base, and they are known to swim across the bay.
“Sometimes they go for a joy swim,” he said, noting that the rise of cellphones has simply made these moments more visible.
Florida is home to around 4,050 black bears, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The state’s black bears are excellent swimmers and are frequently spotted near beaches and other human-populated areas.
As human development continues to encroach on wildlife habitats, black bears are increasingly venturing into urban spaces. This has led to a rise in bear sightings in places like backyards, beaches, and even inside homes.
Experts also warned that these rare but fascinating interactions between people and wildlife are likely to continue.
