r/interestingasfuck • u/SnackSamurai • 2d ago

Women stand still to escape from a bear

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u/niagara-nature 2d ago

Looks like it. That probably means he’s already had a negative interaction with people.

In Algonquin Park I believe they’ll tag and relocate bears the first time it happens. The second time the bear gets another tag and relocated further away. Third time it gets euthanized, sadly.

This is a bear that’s been fed and is expecting humans to feed it. And the paw swipes it made are the exact reason why it’s going to get euthanized. Very sad :( a fed bear is a dead bear, as they say.

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u/Real_Live_Sloth 2d ago

Lmao the bear has a record.

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u/veggielover24 2d ago

Why would the paw swipes have that effect? Is it seen as the bear investigating/begging or is it because they’re actively trying to harm?

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u/niagara-nature 2d ago

The bear is probably frustrated it’s not getting food and I’d guess the paw swipes are the bear’s way of trying to get attention or express a bit of annoyance. There’s a video where a guy has a bear in his yard and he makes the bear leave but the bear makes the same kind of swat.

It’s likely someone will get injured and it’s too bad that it will result in this bear getting killed. I hope it gets relocated instead but it’s already got one strike against it, I think.

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u/Greeneggplusthing2 2d ago

Swiping with a paw is the bear equivalent to a dog using it's mouth/teeth to direct humans. While not necessarily intended to harm it absolutely can cause harm, fear, and escalating behaviors.

Edit, when I say dog and mouth think herding breeds. They direct sheep with mouthing and try with humans until taught otherwise. I do not mean biting for direction.

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u/niagara-nature 2d ago

This is a better explanation that mine! Thank you

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u/WinOdd7962 1d ago edited 1d ago

Why would the paw swipes have that effect? Is it seen as the bear investigating/begging or is it because they’re actively trying to harm?

Because it is a sign of aggression that can't be acceptable. She was very lucky. If she had kicked or moved suddenly the situation could have gone real bad real fast. Not to say standing still is expected to help. A black bear could decide to escalate without provocation. She was lucky.

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u/cupacupacupacupacup 2d ago

a fed bear is a dead bear, as they say.

I bet that's not what bears say

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u/r_sparrow09 2d ago

that sucks, I thought the bear looked a little on the thinner side. Poor baby.

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u/Harambe_Rebornn 2h ago

Not sad, just responsible, even 3 instances is extremely generous, and dangerous.

Which is a shame because the bear definitely doesn't want to hurt the people, it just wants some food, but it's so big and strong and not synchronized to human behavior like dogs are, you just can't take that risk.

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u/niagara-nature 1h ago

It is sad. If people are neglectful with storing their food, or if they’re feeding wild animals, the end result may be the death of that animal.

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u/Harambe_Rebornn 1h ago

Not neglectful, charitable, just misplaced charity.

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u/niagara-nature 1h ago

If people are camping in bear territory, food has to be stored properly. If a bear gets into improperly stored food and disrupts a campsite while doing that, it’s one of the ways they get an ear tag. Charity has nothing to do with it.

I don’t understand your stance here.

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u/Harambe_Rebornn 1h ago

People can camp wherever they want, if the bear is breaking in it's the bear that is the problem because they can become a habitual threat to the campers.

It's just being responsible at the end of the day, not tragic.

And charity is when people themselves feed the bears, that's what I was referring to.

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u/niagara-nature 58m ago

People can’t camp wherever they want, and proper food storage is important to prevent the bears from becoming nuisance animals.