WATCH: After taking a dip, a bear runs out of Gulf Coast surf at beach
Beachgoers were shocked Sunday to see a bear swimming in the surf on Destin Beach.
While most people expect to find dolphins, crabs, or fish — a bear is not usually on that list.
Watch the video of the bear in the player above.
It popped up in the surf, shocking many people who pulled out their cameras and began to record the animal. It swam up to the surf, got out of the water and ran through the beach chairs and umbrellas.
Black bears are not as common throughout all of Alabama or Florida, but do live near the panhandle of Florida.
Video below: "I guess he's on vacation, too," beach-goer can be heard saying of the bear
Sister station WESH reported that as more bears have been spotted recently, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recommended the following steps for reducing conflict with bears:
- Remove food that may attract a bear to the area.
- Avoid putting out the trash the night before pickup, and instead put it out the morning of pickup.
- If you see a bear, give it space and don't approach it.
Video below: Four bear cubs playing on deck