Who said fishing is a relaxing and enjoyable activity? For the fishermen in the video below, it’s not just about focusing on fishing, but also about fending off black bears trying to snatch the salmon on the hook. The fisherman explained the dangers of feeding wild animals and pointed out that the bear had already eaten three large fish that morning.
A viral video on Instagram shows a fisherman fishing while dealing with a persistent black bear trying to steal the fish from the hook. This video has caught the attention of the media. Within two days of its release, the video has garnered over 500,000 likes and more than 8,000 comments.
Bears eat almost anything, but for bears living on the West Coast of the United States, perhaps nothing is more tempting than salmon. Bears often spend hours fishing and usually have a bountiful harvest. It is known that some coastal brown bears can catch over 30 salmon in a day.
The speed and sharp claws of bears make them natural fishing experts, and their immense power allows them to easily carry off their prey. An adult black bear’s each paw can lift objects weighing up to 300 pounds (about 136 kilograms), and their bite force can reach up to 800 pounds per square inch. In other words, if they need to carry prey in their mouths, it’s a piece of cake for them. However, black bears are also opportunistic hunters and sometimes take shortcuts.
In the video, it’s clear that this black bear didn’t feel like getting into the water to catch the salmon. Why bother making the effort to catch fish when it can seize the freshly hooked fish from the fisherman’s hands if the opportunity arises?
According to a report by Fox News on September 9th, the black bear initially thought it could just steal a fish from the fishing line and be done. But when it decided to go for a second fish after grabbing the first one, the fisherman intervened. He charged towards the bear, successfully halting its attack and making it pause. Nevertheless, the bear wasn’t willing to give up then. Instead, it seemed surprised by the counterattack. As the fisherman continued to pull the fish ashore, the bear interpreted it as another opportunity to seize the fish.
As a precaution, the fisherman and the videographer shouted “Hey Bear” a few times, with the brave fisherman once again facing off against the bear. The fisherman’s second charge finally made the bear understand the situation. After the second failed attempt to steal the fish, the bear finally “got the message” and retreated entirely.
Spectators were left with a question: Is it worth risking a violent confrontation with a black bear to protect your catch?
For this fisherman, the answer is a resounding yes.
When he prevented the bear from snatching another fish, he had several reasons. He listed these reasons in the video’s comment section, explaining that it’s not just about one fish.
“Many people say ‘Just give the fish to the bear,’ which surprises me, so I need to educate you… First, in this specific area, there are plenty of fish, and the bears can catch their dinner effortlessly even with their eyes closed underwater,” he wrote.
“Secondly, this is a densely populated area with many tourists. If people start feeding these bears, they will become bold, no longer see humans as a threat, and may even consider humans as food.”
If you still doubt the fisherman’s actions were correct or worth standing up to the bear over a fish, he has a compelling reason to sum it up.
“Thirdly, I saw the bear eat three large fish that morning, one of which was snatched from my line,” he continued, “Finally, if you don’t know not to feed wild animals, especially those that could pose a threat to humans, you really should do some research. Good luck.”