Black bear goes for swim in St. Johns River

Jacksonville man captures swimming bear on cellphone

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Cellphone video captured a black bear going for a swim Friday in the St. Johns River. 

Raoul Hosein told WJXT he shot the footage while he was water skiing on the St. Johns River off Heckscher Drive on Jacksonville's Northside. 

The video shows the bear in the middle of the channel. Hosein said he later saw the bear go ashore and run off. 

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, bears are good swimmers and are known to swim long distances. 

WJXT meteorologist John Gaughan said the the high temperature Friday at Jacksonville International Airport was 88 degrees. So it's possible the bear was just trying to cool off by taking a dip in the water.