"Eopu Eopu" Black Bear Spotted Playing in Water at Florida Beach

by Lim Juhyeong

Published 13 Jun.2023 12:30(KST)

"Never Thought It Was a Bear"
Local Vacationers Also Focused Attention

A wild bear appeared at a beach in Florida, USA. The bear reportedly enjoyed playing in the water without paying attention to the vacationers focused on it, then left the area.

On the 12th (local time), CNN reported that a bear was spotted the previous day at Destin Beach, a coastal city in Florida.

At the time the bear was discovered, the beach nearby was crowded with vacationers. A witness told CNN, "Most people at the scene did not even think it could be a bear."

The bear reportedly enjoyed playing in the water regardless of people's gazes. In the footage released by the media, the bear can be seen floating on the sea, letting the waves carry it. It also freely runs around the crowded sandy beach.

Bear found on a coast in Florida, USA [Image source=CNN]

The woman who provided the video to CNN said, "From a distance, it was impossible to tell what it was. Only after getting closer did I realize it was a bear," adding, "It seems like it was enjoying its vacation too."

Afterward, the bear reportedly reached the shore safely and ran away. The woman added, "I have lived here (Florida) all my life, but this is the first time I have seen such a sight."

A bear running along the coastline. [Image source=CNN]

The bear is presumed to be a 'Florida black bear.' It is a subspecies of black bear spread across the American continent, mainly inhabiting the southern United States, including Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi.

Black bears primarily live in densely forested areas, and since the American frontier expansion, their habitats and populations have steadily declined. They are also known to be shy and cautious, rarely appearing in human residential areas.

It is unknown how this bear reached the beach from the forest or where it went after fleeing the coastline.