Welcome to the Suburbs
June 30, 2008
It’s good to know that there are people out there willing to save the animals. A touching story for any animal lover: In Apalachicola, Fla. a bear was rescued by a man when he started to drown. The bear had been roaming the towns around the Apalachicola area and causing the town residents frustration. Personally, I don’t think that humans have the right to be angry with wild animals, like bears or raccoons, that go through their trash in order to feed themselves. Technically, we are the ones who invaded their habitats first, they are just paying us back. Anyone who’s ever seen Over the Hedge knows what I’m talking about! That’s not to say I wouldn’t be freaking out if I saw a wild bear on my front lawn.
When the authorities in Florida finally tracked the bear down, the bear fled and jumped into the Gulf of Mexico. Smart bear – he probably figured he could swim across the border and hide out in Mexico :-p haha. Anyway, the bear was hit with a tranquilizer dart right before he dove into the Gulf. (poor guy) As the bear was swimming out to sea, the tranquilizer started to take effect and the bear began to sink as he lost consciousness.
The man who saved the bear dove right into the ocean without a thought and grabbed hold of the bear. He kept the bear afloat, lifeguard style, and managed to drag the bear up on to land. I find this very impressive, seeing as the bear weighed about 375lbs, plus the extra weight added from his soaking wet fur. I give both the man and the bear credit – the man for saving a the animal’s life, and the bear for being smart enough to run!
Thanks for the great photo. I live in Apalachicola and I notice that this story has been picked up by the national press. The rescuer was an employee of the Fish and Wildlife Commission. He is a state worker, and I think, a hero.