Brighten Your Day

Black Bears Spotted Surfing The Ocean Waves

June 12, 2023

Black bears are on the move this time of year and a few have been spotted enjoying the beaches in North Carolina's Outer Banks.

Dozens of photos have been posted by the "Outer Banks" Facebook page.

"While we do not have a permanent black bear population along the Outer Banks portion of Dare County, it is not uncommon for one to pass through the area," the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission said in a news release.

"In the springtime, these bears are usually young males looking for territory of their own."

In another recent story, a black bear was seen swimming in Destin, Florida.

The young bear must have been swept out to sea by the current.

@allthingsemeraldcoast Black bear swimming in the Gulf of Mexico in Destin, FL 🐻👀🌊 #bear #destin #destinflorida #blackbear #emeraldcoast #allthingsemeraldcoast ♬ Glow - Lkzbeatzz

Fortunately, black bears are strong swimmers.

Videos posted by beachgoers show the bear making it safely to shore.

@accuweather 🐻 Bear-ly containing our excitment as this cub takes a dip in the Destin, Florida waves. 🎥 Jennifer Majors Smith #bear #destin #foryou #trending ♬ original sound - AccuWeather