A huge black bear was seen roaming around a residential area near Alligator Point, Florida. The local wildlife officers knew they had to trap the bear and return him to his habitat.
They thought it would just be a fairly normal event. But when they tried to tranquilize the bear, things started to go wrong.
The tranquilizer dart sent the nearly-400-pound bear into panic and ran away.
The black bear ran towards the ocean.
As he swam further out into the water, the drugs started to take effect and the bear became drowsy and started to drown. When Adam Warwick saw what happened, he immediately sprung into action to save the animal.
Onlookers were shocked by what they saw.
Adam, a biologist with the Wildlife Commission, ignored any potential injury from the bear’s razor-sharp claws or fierce teeth.
“I wasn’t sure what I was going to do when I jumped in,” he said “It was a spur of the moment decision. I had a lot of adrenaline pumping when I saw the bear in the water.”
He calmly grabbed the huge bear by the scruff of the neck.
Adam said that the bear tried lunging him with his claws, but lost the ability to move his legs.
Everyone held their breath as the brave rescuer dragged the bear to the shore.
They both made it out of the water safe and unharmed.
It seemed like an eternity waiting for the other rescuers to help them.
Finally a wildlife officer came to help Adam and the bear.
They used a tractor to transport the bear.
The groggy bear was returned back to his habitat in Osceola National Forest.
Now Adam (and perhaps the bear) has an amazing story to tell their friends.
Adam Warwick suffered a minor scratch from the bear and cuts from barnacles. But thanks to his quick thinking and bravery, the black bear is now back to his home sound and safe.