Deer discovered swimming off North Carolina’s coast, police say. See the odd video
Deer can be added to the list of oddities tourists might find swimming in the Atlantic Ocean off North Carolina.
Video of one paddling in waters off Pine Knoll Shores was recorded Monday, Oct. 16, by a police officer, and it wasn’t just a quick dip.
“Next time you are swimming in the ocean, don’t be surprised if a deer joins you,” the police department reported on Facebook.
“Our officers were on an early morning beach patrol when they spotted a deer on the beach. The deer jumped in the ocean, swam out about 100 yards, then started swimming parallel to shore.”
The deer traveled about a third of a mile before heading back to shore, police said. It then galloped onto the beach and took off running for the dunes.
Odd animals are known to occasionally show up in the ocean off North Carolina, due largely to the state’s shifting barrier islands and occasional coastal flooding.
Wild horses, alligators, rattlesnakes, cows and even bears have been documented swimming around the islands.
Pine Knoll Shores is on the Bogue Banks, an island part of the state’s Crystal Coast. The area south of the Outer Banks sits between the Atlantic Ocean and Bogue Sound.
The video had been viewed more than 40,000 times as of Oct. 17 and gotten hundreds of reactions, including from some who noted it could have ended as a very odd shark attack scenario.
“Never know what you may find in the ocean,” one commenter said.
Fisherman spots large object floating off NC coast — and discovers a swimming bear
Wild horses take to the ocean as heat index tops 100 degrees along NC Outer Banks
Dark, slithering creature seen by boat captain near NC coast stirs debate. What is it?
