National Parks Warns Not To Plot Killing Friends With Bears During Hiking Season
Image via Shutterstock
Campaigns these days are getting more and more bizarre, but can you blame advertisers? With hiking season having just arrived amid these dystopian times, the US government has released a string of weirdly morbid PSAs reminding social media users to take the annual safety precautions—this time in a manner more Quentin Tarantino than Barney the dinosaur.
On 2 August, which was National Friendship Day, the National Park Service (NPS) uploaded a peculiar poster of two silhouettes in the woods, with one of them forcefully shoving the other onto the ground while a bear lurks in the background. “Friends don’t use friends as bear bait,” the federal agency’s graphic read.
“For the longest time my best friend was my grandmother. And then she met Harriet. And now she thinks she better than...
Posted by National Park Service on Sunday, August 2, 2020
Naturally, people were confused, so the NPS clarified the poster in detail in a separate post. The explanation didn’t assuage internet users’ feelings, though.
The agency went on to eerily address, “Please don’t run from bears or push your slower friends down in attempts of saving yourself… Do NOT push down a slower friend (even if you think the friendship has run its course),” before disclaiming, “P.S. We apologize to any ‘friends’ who were brought on a hike as the ‘bait’ or were sacrificed to save the group. You will be missed.”
The follow-up post did come with some helpful advice on saving yourself—and friends you hopefully care about—from possible bear attacks.
“If you come upon a stationary bear, move away slowly and sideways; this allows you to keep an eye on the bear and avoid tripping,” the NPS urged. “Moving sideways is also non-threatening to bears. Do NOT run, but if the bear follows, stop and hold your ground. Like dogs, they will chase fleeing animals.”
The government agency also warned never to climb a tree if you encounter a bear. “Both grizzlies and black bears can climb trees,” it elaborated.
The most important things to note are to keep your cool and identify yourself with a noise so the bear knows you are a person, and not food.
“Stay calm and remember that most bears do not want to attack you; they usually just want to be left alone. Don’t we all?” the NPS alerted. “Identify yourself by making noise so the bear knows you are a human and not a prey animal. Help the bear recognize you as a human. We recommend using your voice. (Waving and showing off your opposable thumb means nothing to the bear).”
Lastly, the agency shared that it’s not uncommon for bears to inch forward or stand on their hind legs for a closer look or to pick up a scent. “A standing bear is usually curious, not threatening,” it assured.
READ: Please don’t run from bears or push your slower friends down in attempts of saving yourself.
Posted by National Park Service on Wednesday, August 5, 2020
As a follow-up...
[via Mashable, cover image via Shutterstock]
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