(UPI) A black bear that has evaded capture in a Washington state city for weeks was caught on camera taking a swim to burn off some bird seed calories.

Christine Palmerton posted photos and video Wednesday to Facebook showing the bear she spotted taking a swim in her backyard pool Wednesday in Bellingham.

The bear is believed to be an adolescent variously nicknamed Barkley Bear and Walter by locals who have spotted it wandering their neighborhoods for the past two months.

Palmerton said Barkley has previously visited her yard to raid her bird feeders, but Wednesday was the first time the bruin decided to take a swim.

"I went out, and there he was, just standing on the deck of the pool. He looked at the water like he wanted to get a drink, and then he went over to this little waterfall we have and took a drink from the little pond by the waterfall. ... And then he went back and jumped in the pool. ... He was looking at me, like, 'What?' It's a warm, sunny day, so why wouldn't you want to swim?" Palmerton told the Bellingham Herald.

She said the bear's swim lasted for about 10 minutes.

Palmerton said her husband, a bear fan, was jealous of her close encounter.

"The worst thing about it was my husband missed the whole thing. He sat outside one night waiting for him to come, but he was on a work road trip and missed this," she said.

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