Recently, alongside a highway in Florida, USA, a black bear with a “bitter melon face” made an appearance, attracting onlookers and photographers. Local authorities urged people not to approach the “depressed” black bear for their safety, let alone take selfies with it.
According to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, the bear was spotted last week on the north side of Highway 98 in Santa Rosa Beach, quickly drawing attention and prompting some individuals to dangerously approach and take selfies with it.
The office posted on Facebook, warning that the bear showed signs of severe stress and did not appear to be in the mood for photos. Describing the large male bear as “depressed” and “stressed,” they strongly advised the public to stay away from it.
They emphasized, “Under no circumstances should you approach a black bear, especially one displaying aggressive behavior like this big guy.”
Upon receiving the report from the Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission dispatched personnel to investigate. They found the bear sitting near a utility pole with a crowd of spectators taking photos.
In a statement, the Commission mentioned that when their staff and biologists arrived at the scene, the bear had wandered off into the nearby forest on its own accord.
According to the photos shared by their staff, the bear appeared uninjured and might have been resting there due to the hot weather.
Black bears are commonly found in many areas of Florida, especially in spring and summer when young bears begin to leave their mothers’ territories to seek new habitats.
BearWise is a website aimed at spreading correct information about bears, protecting them, and minimizing human-bear conflicts.
A spokesperson for the website told The Guardian, “Bears typically move on their own. If you see a bear, give it space, do not approach it, and do not feed it.”
The spokesperson added, “It is not recommended for crowds to gather around any bear, as bears may take defensive actions when feeling threatened. Always give bears as much space as possible.”
This is not the first incident where someone has tried to take photos with bears that has made headlines. Earlier this year, a 72-year-old woman from the UK attempted to take a photo with a bear in Romania and was attacked.
According to The Independent, on April 22, the woman was traveling through a remote area of Arges County in Romania with a friend when they spotted two bears by the roadside. They stopped the car and opened the window, hoping to take photos with the bears.
One of the bears approached the vehicle and struck the woman. Her friend quickly drove off to avoid further harm, and she was later taken to the hospital for treatment, luckily with non-life-threatening injuries.