BELMAR-- New Jerseyans are accustomed to deer turning up just about anywhere these days -- along major highways, in suburban back yards, dodging traffic in the downtowns of the state's largest cities. Last year, a doe jumped through an unlocked window at a Bergen County middle school.

Even the waters of the Atlantic are not immune to their presence.

On Friday afternoon, Tyson Trish, a former photojournalist for the Record of Woodland Park, was at the beach with his wife, Gina -- who recently won the Democratic primary for the 24th District Assembly seat -- and their children. Around 2 p.m., they suddenly noticed a deer trying to steady itself in the rough surf nearby and Trish grabbed his camera.

"At first we thought it was a seal in the waves and then as it got closer we could see it was a deer," said Trish, who now teaches at Blair Academy in Blairstown. "It was struggling quite a bit and barely made it ashore. The lifeguards were watching very closely."

Although not widely known for it, deer can swim -- even in the ocean. In 2012, one was seen paddling for about a mile in the waters off West Haven, Ct.

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.