A New Jersey community is claiming the title of the ‘bear swimming capital of the world,’ after two videos showing the animals taking a dip in backyard pools surfaced online.
On Wednesday, Rockaway, N.J. resident Jennifer Englese came home and caught a pair of bear cubs splashing around in a neighbour’s pool.
Englese told News 12 that the cubs wrestled around in the water, leaving the inflatable pool airless on the ground.
WATCH: Bear cools off with dip in New Jersey family’s pool
On Friday, Stacey and Rick Dowling filmed a 136-kilogram bear swimming in their pool.
“He popped our float! I think he’s breaking our pool,” Stacey was recorded saying in the video.
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“He’s trying to get out,” she says. “Babe, let’s get him out!”
“I’m not going out there!” Stacey’s husband Rick responds. “You crazy?”
READ MORE: Family of bears cool off with day at California beach
Last summer a Rockaway resident recorded a video of a whole family of bears having a good time in his backyard pool.
Tim Basso and his two young daughters hilariously narrated the pool party.
READ MORE: Family watches as mother bear, five cubs have backyard pool party
“They took my floatie!” one of the Basso kids can be heard saying, as a bear cub takes hold of her favourite inflatable toy.
At one point in the video one of Basso’s daughters asks about how dirty the pool may be after the bears get out — “I don’t know, sweetie, I think our pool is shot,” Basso jokes.
Rockaway Township Mayor Michael Dachisen told News 12 that his office receives daily calls about bear sightings and said there are about 20 bears living in the community.
Local reports said at least two bears were spotted on a roadway on August 24.
The community is seeking help from state authorities to lessen human-bear interactions, and urged residents to be aware of the animals.
Dachisen said the only bear-related injury in the community he is aware of was the mauling of a Scout leader last December.
Christopher Petronino suffered non-life threatening injuries in the attack.
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