Current:Home > ContactA Florida black bear was caught on video hanging out at Naples yacht club -SecureWealth Vault
A Florida black bear was caught on video hanging out at Naples yacht club
View
Date:2025-04-17 14:11:21
A Florida black bear was spotted aboard a yacht earlier this week.
It seems like the wildlife living near Naples want to fit in and do their part to uphold the lifestyles of the rich and famous brand.
The black bear in question was caught hanging out on a 50-foot sailing catamaran docked at the Naples Sailing and Yacht Club.
Captain Todd Dillman, the owner of TowBoatU.S.-Naples & Marco Island, a tow service that tows boats when they break down, happened to be in the right place at the right time on Wednesday. He was driving by the yacht club in his boat when he spotted the bear walking around the catamaran deck.
Let’s just say seeing the black bear was a bit of a surprise for Dillman, who thought he had seen it all in his line of work.
"Snakes, gators, saltwater crocs, sharks ... never in a million years did I think I would see a bear."
Dillman said the bear swam across the harbor and got up on the boat.
"I had to video it because no one would believe me if I told it," Dillman said.
Where is the bear now?
Despite the bear abandoning its post, the bear is still “running around downtown,” Dillman said.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commision are monitoring the bear and trying to make sure it goes home.
How common is it to see a bear running about?
There may not be a large quantity of black bears running around the Naples area, but it's not unusual to see on in your neighborhood from time to time.
Residents have posted a steady stream of videos on social media showing bears roaming around yards and looking for food inside garbage cans, frolicking in front of a house, or on a million-dollar yacht for example.
Black bears tend to prefer habitats with a dense understory such as forested wetlands and uplands, natural pinelands, hammocks, scrub, and shrub lands, but will use just about every habitat type in Florida, including swamps, according to the FWC website.
What to do if you encounter a bear?
Since spotting a black bear in Florida from time to time isn’t unusual, there are a couple tips from The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission you can keep in mind if you ever see one while you are out and about. It might be rare for bears to seriously injure people, but bears have bitten and scratched people defending themselves, their cubs, or their food.
If you see a bear from a distance:
- Enjoy the experience, but do not move toward the bear, if your presence changes the bear's behavior you are too close
If you see a bear at a close distance:
- Remain standing upright
- Speak to the bear in a calm, assertive voice
- Back up slowly toward a secure area, be sure you are leaving the bear a clear escape route
- Avoid direct eye contact - bears and other animals may view this as aggressive behavior
- Stop and hold your ground if your movement away seems to irritate instead of calm the bear
If a black bear does attack you, you are encouraged to fight back aggressively. People have been able to successfully fend off a black bear attack using rocks, sticks, or even their bare hands, according to the FWC.
More:Regarding Fat Bear Week: A letter from Fit Bears demanding equal representation
veryGood! (3482)
Related
- From family road trips to travel woes: Americans are navigating skyrocketing holiday costs
- Rare but deadly mosquito disease has New England hotspots warning against going out at night
- GoFundMe fundraisers established for Apalachee High School shooting victims: How to help
- How many points did Caitlin Clark score Wednesday? Clark earns second career triple-double
- 'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
- Giants reward Matt Chapman's bounce-back season with massive extension
- More extreme heat plus more people equals danger in these California cities
- Fight Common Signs of Aging With These Dermatologist-Approved Skincare Products
- Juan Soto praise of Mets' future a tough sight for Yankees, but World Series goal remains
- Marlon Wayans almost cut out crying on Netflix special over death of parents
Ranking
- The Best Stocking Stuffers Under $25
- Ronaldo on scoring his 900th career goal: ‘It was emotional’
- More extreme heat plus more people equals danger in these California cities
- NBA legend Charles Barkley promises $1M donation to New Orleans school
- Taylor Swift Eras Archive site launches on singer's 35th birthday. What is it?
- Ruth Harkin memoir shows wit and fortitude of a woman who's made a difference
- More extreme heat plus more people equals danger in these California cities
- An ex-Mafia hitman is set for sentencing in the prison killing of gangster James ‘Whitey’ Bulger
Recommendation
Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
A Legionnaire’s disease outbreak has killed 3 at an assisted living facility
Nicole Kidman Shares Relatable Way Her Daughters Sunday and Faith Wreak Havoc at Home
Billie Jean King moves closer to breaking another barrier and earning the Congressional Gold Medal
Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
Bachelor Nation’s Maria Georgas Addresses Jenn Tran and Devin Strader Fallout
Former cadets accuse the Coast Guard Academy of failing to stop sexual violence
Video game performers reach agreement with 80 video games on AI terms