Local officials in California have been making public warnings about staying out of the Yuba River because the spring runoff has more than doubled in size because of the heavy snowpack, making it far more dangerous than usual.
But a black bear failed to heed the warning.
On Saturday, the bear attempted to cross the Yuba River and got swept away in the raging whitewater.
Video of the event was captured by Volunteer Fire Chief Mike Stewart, who was standing on the back deck of the Washington Hotel adjacent the river, according to the Sacramento Bee.
The video shows the bear getting swept down the rapids and going underwater several times as its frantically swims as hard as it can toward the safety of the shore.
“No human could have survived that,” the Washington, California Fire Department wrote on Facebook.
“That bear was swimming for its life…a dog or person would have been gone,” a commenter wrote on Facebook.
Also on FTW Outdoors: Momma bear rescues panicking, crying cub in swift river crossing
The bear did finally make it to shore and shook off the water like a dog.
Stewart told ABC10 the bear weighed about 300 pounds.
“Well, I guess we should add another language to the ‘Stay out, stay alive’ campaign!’” the Washington, California Fire Department wrote on Facebook.
Photo courtesy of ViralHog.
