A fisherman captured video on June 25 of a bear swimming across the Quabbin Reservoir to an island with two bear cubs on its back.
Massachusetts residents weren’t the only ones seeking relief from the heat last week.
A fisherman captured video on June 25 of a bear swimming across the Quabbin Reservoir to an island with two bear cubs on its back.
Izzy Drost shared clips of the bear swimming with its precious cargo to Facebook.
“My buddy took me out on the Quabbin for some fishing, and all of a sudden we see a Momma Bear Swimming across the Quabbin to an island with her 2 tiny baby cubs on her back,” he wrote. “What an amazing sight to see.”
The videos were re-shared by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife.
“Black bears can often be seen swimming to cool off during hot summer months in both backyard swimming pools and natural bodies of water,” wildlife officials wrote. “Bears may also swim to travel or avoid perceived threats.”
Black bears are common in western and central Massachusetts and have been expanding their range in the state, wildlife experts wrote, but “seeing a bear with cubs in the wild is a special sighting.”
Officials urged the public to remember that bears should be appreciated “from a distance” for the safety of both humans and the animals.
Removing or securing food sources, like bird feeders and trash cans, is key to preventing problems with bears in the state.
“Bears will visit birdfeeders, orchards, and beehives,” the state advises. “It is not unusual for bears to use residential areas, and they are often attracted to yards by bird feeders and unsecured trash. Bears have excellent long-term memory and can remember the location of food sources years after the first visit.”
If you do encounter a bear, state officials said you should:
- Remain calm.
- Do not run from a bear or climb trees to escape
- Back away when possible
- Ensure the bear has an escape route
- Immediately fight back if attacked
Dialynn Dwyer is a reporter and editor at Boston.com, covering breaking and local news across Boston and New England.
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