5 days ago
Video shows bear taking dip in Gulf off Naples beach. 'Mom, run!' son warns his mother
A Florida black bear was caught on video going for a swim in the warm waters of the Gulf, just offshore from a Naples beach.
Kylie Nelson and her son were taking a morning beach walk on May 30 when they spotted the bear taking a dip, according to Storyful.
As the bear neared the beach, the boy can be heard in the video yelling, "Mom, run!"
After leaving the water, the black bear can be seen running in the backyard of a building.
Wild black bears are found in almost half of Florida, according to the FWC.
Southwest Florida is among the "frequent" locations the FWC classifies where Florida black bears can be seen.
Per FWC, nuisance bear calls climbed from 2,000 in 2016 to more than 6,000 in 2024.
'As the bear population grows and development occurs, we are probably going to see more bears move into developed areas. So that's one reason we want to try to manage bear population growth,' FWC's director of hunting and game management Morgan Richardson said.
If you encounter a black bear at close range, FWC advises you to stand upright, back up slowly and speak to the bear in a calm, assertive voice.
FWC also recommends the following:
Don't feed or intentionally attract bears
If a bear eats something on your property, take note and secure it
Don't surprise or approach a bear
If you're in your yard:
Make sure you're in a safe area and the bear has a clear escape route, then make noise or bang pots and pans to scare the bear away
Don't turn your back, play dead, climb a tree or run. Back away slowly.
Avoid direct eye contact as the bear may view it as aggressive behavior
A man and a dog were killed in a bear attack in rural Jerome, in Collier County, Florida on May 5, 2025.
A family member reportedly called 911 at 7:15 a.m. after witnessing a bear kill the victim's dog.
There was no sign of Robert Markel, 89, and his trailer was in disarray, with a mattress and other items scattered throughout, according to a police report.
No blood was reportedly found inside the camper, but Markel's bloodied wallet, pants and T-shirt were found about 20 yards away in a wooded area.
Markel, of Jerome, was found dead on the property, about 100 yards from the dog.
Florida Fish and Wildlife later confirmed a 263-pound male black bear killed Markel in the first recorded fatal bear attack in Florida history. The bear was one of three shot and killed around Markel's property and sent for necropsies and DNA testing.
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A new Florida law allows the use of lethal force to kill a bear if the person "reasonably believed that his or her action was necessary to avoid an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to himself or herself, a pet, or substantial damage to a dwelling."
Notification must be provided to FWC within 24 hours. The agency will dispose of the bear. Possession, sale and disposal of bear parts is prohibited.
Fines for violations can be $5,000.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Bear in Florida swims in Gulf off Naples beach: Watch
