Photos: Silly Florida Deer Discover Swimming Isn't For Them

PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL — Two Florida deer found out the hard way recently that swimming isn’t necessarily a strong suit.

Just what the pair were thinking when they ran directly into the waters off Panama City Beach on March 15 is unclear. What is clear is that the move nearly turned out to be a very bad idea for the two, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

That agency was alerted to the unusual occurrence by a kayaker who flagged down FWC officer Major Bruce Cooper while he was out on patrol.

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“She was concerned since she watched two deer on the beach run directly into the water and swim away from shore,” FWC wrote on its Facebook page Monday morning.

Realizing something was amiss, Cooper swung into action, searching the area. It didn’t take him long to spot “two small heads in the water more than 1,000 yards from shore,” the agency reported.

When Cooper caught up to the two, he discovered they were having difficulty in the choppy waters.

“They appeared to be fatigued and disoriented from trying to fight against the 2-to-4-foot waves,” FWC wrote.

Cooper was able to guide the pair toward shore and “gently navigate them back to land.”

Once on solid ground, FWC said, the doe and her yearling took off over the dunes and into St. Andrews State Park.

Rescuing Florida wildlife in distress is nothing new for FWC officers. Earlier this year, officers found themselves rescuing a black tip shark that had been put in a condominium complex’s pool. They’ve also been known to pitch in to save manatees, Florida panthers and a host of other critters caught in tight spots.

Photos courtesy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission/Bekah Nelson