A large black bear is seen taking a nap in a kiddie pool at a backyard of a woman in Virginia.
Regina Keller is no stranger to bears, as she had been taking wildlife photos in her backyard for 12 years.
As her home is near the George Washington National Forest in Fort Valley, she is used to witness a variety of furry visitors lounging on her backyard, which includes deer, bears, foxes, and squirrels.
However, as she waters her flowers on July 19, a large male bear wandered into her backyard.
“This was the biggest one I’ve seen this year,” she said in an interview with CNN.
She recognized who the bear was, and realized she has not seen him in about two years.
“He wandered around the backyard… and went over by the pool and dipped his big paw in the water… and then climbed right in and laid down. He seemed so content and refreshed.”
She and her boyfriend watched her visitor at a distance, retreated to a chair by the door to her home and more amused than surprised when the bear made itself at home.
“We couldn’t help but chuckle when he climbed on in and laid down, with obvious enjoyment and relief, making water pour out of the sides. He relaxed, staying on his tummy for a while then rearranged his big, huge body to lay on his side. … He was aware of our presence the entire time.”
The bear stayed in the pool for about an hour, relaxing and napping until he ran off upon hearing the sound of Keller’s grandchildren arriving in her driveway with their dogs.
“It was neat to see and neat that I had my camera with me to capture it,” Keller said.
The South had been enduring a heat wave recently, creating a triple-digit heat indexes in Mid-Atlantic states.