Bear takes a dip in reservoir at Colorado state park. Watch it do the ‘bear stroke’
A black bear was seen taking a dip in a Colorado reservoir at a state park — and a visitor was lucky enough to catch it on camera.
The animal was spotted May 23 swimming near the dam in the Ridgway Reservoir at Ridgway State Park, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Southwest Region posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on June 5.
“You’ve heard of the doggy paddle, but have you seen the bear stroke?” officials said.
A 7-second video clip shows the bear paddling with its paws in the water.
The person who took the video filmed the animal from a steep embankment and kept a distance.
“This visitor did everything we ask of people when photographing a bear,” the wildlife agency’s spokesperson, John Livingston, told McClatchy News in an email.
Livingston said the visitor was away from the water and zoomed in on the bear with their camera instead of getting closer to it. They also left when the bear got to the shoreline.
People should stay at least 300 feet away from bears.
“This is a good reminder that bears are active and will go through great lengths to try to find food,” Livingston said. “Campers should remember to never bring food or clothing items that smell like food into their tents, to always clean grills and properly secure trash and coolers.”
Colorado is home to 17,000 to 20,000 bears, according to wildlife officials.
Ridgway State Park is in southwestern Colorado.
What to do if you see a bear
Bear attacks in the U.S. are rare, according to the National Park Service. In most attacks, bears are trying to defend their food, cubs or space.
There are steps people can take to help prevent a bear encounter from becoming a bear attack.
Identify yourself: Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. This can help the bear realize you’re a human and nonthreatening.
Stay calm: Bears usually don’t want to attack; they want to be left alone. Talk slowly and with a low voice to the bear.
Don’t scream: Screaming could trigger an attack.
Pick up small children: Don’t let kids run away from the bear. It could think they’re small prey.
Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said. Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people.
Make yourself look big: Move to higher ground and stand tall. Don’t make any sudden movements.
Don’t drop your bag: A bag on your back can keep a bear from accessing food, and it can provide protection.
Walk away slowly: Move sideways so you appear less threatening to the bear. This also lets you keep an eye out.
Again, don’t run: Bears will chase you, just like a dog would.
Don’t climb trees: Grizzlies and black bears can also climb.
This story was originally published June 5, 2024 at 2:25 PM with the headline "Bear takes a dip in reservoir at Colorado state park. Watch it do the ‘bear stroke’."
