In Golden Gate Estates, Florida, summer heat doesn’t just have people searching for shade—it has the local wildlife getting creative.
On a sweltering afternoon, residents of one neighborhood got a surprise visitor: a hefty black bear lumbering casually down the street. At first, it seemed like just another “only in Florida” wildlife sighting—until the bear made a beeline for a convenience store’s outdoor ice machine.
Security footage captured the hilarious moment. The bear sniffed around the humming metal box, then, with surprising delicacy, opened the flap and stuck its entire head inside. For several long seconds, it just stayed there—eyes closed, enjoying the frosty blast like it was a personal spa treatment.
Customers coming and going stopped to watch, some filming on their phones, others just shaking their heads and laughing. “I’ve lived here 20 years,” one local said, “and I’ve seen bears do a lot of things. But this is a first.”
Eventually, the bear lifted its head, drops of melting ice clinging to its fur, and wandered back toward the tree line—looking noticeably cooler than when it arrived.
In a state famous for its alligators, hurricanes, and wild headlines, this was yet another reminder: Florida isn’t just hot—it’s unpredictable. And sometimes, even the wildlife knows exactly how to beat the heat.
