Black bear found dead in Market Common pond in Myrtle Beach. What happened to it?
Warning: This story make be sensitive to some readers.
A black bear was found dead in a Myrtle Beach pond.
Photos posted online show the bear, which appears to weigh about 200 to 300 pounds, floating in a pond in The Market Common on Friday evening.
Myrtle Beach Police did not receive a call about the bear, according to police spokesperson Randolph Angotti on Saturday. A message left with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources was not immediately returned.
It is not clear how the bear died. Russell Cavender, owner of The Snake Chaser, said three of his employees removed the animal from the pond after being called by the property manager. Since the pond was close to U.S. 17, he believes that it may have been hit by a vehicle and then wandered into the pond and died.
He said SCDNR was contacted, and he was given permission to dispose of the animal.
Bears are common the Myrtle Beach area and have become nuisance in some areas as development has turned what used to bear habitats into housing, schools and places to shop.
The SCDNR encourages people to report bear sightings to the SCDNR through its website. People can also find more tips on dealing with bears at BearWise.org.
This story was originally published April 18, 2026 at 1:35 PM.
