There’s a video going viral on social media of a large Black bear strolling up a grassy field of Vancouver’s Burnaby Mountain Park. There were numerous visitors out enjoying the summer weather by having picnics on blankets or just lounging. @thenature_aura on Instagram posted it (embedded below) with the caption “Lost in a good book 🐻📖😱”
As you can see everyone but an oblivious couple that appeared to be enthralled in a book saw the bear coming and got up and took off. However, the couple reading had their backs turned and didn’t hear everyone screaming at them (maybe they were deaf). When they finally noticed the bear about two feet from their legs, they got up slowly and walked away, except one of them went back to get their shoes which is when I started screaming internally like I do in horror movies.
It was so ridiculous that it reminded me of the Geico commercial (embedded below) they run around Halloween when the victims turn down a running car to go hide in a garage behind chainsaws which just happens to be where the Texas Chainsaw Massacre is hiding.
The comments reflect exactly how I was feeling:
“Don’t forget your shoes. They’re worth your life.”
“I think her shoe is more important than her life 😂”
“No situational awareness whatsoever 😂”
“I hope this shows people how harmless a black bear typically is. You just get out of their way and they’re like a big raccoon. Their whole focus all day is eat.”
One of the comments stated that the bear was later trapped and killed. I looked it up and sure enough, it’s true. According to the CBC, “A black bear that was recorded stealing food from picnickers in B.C.’s Lower Mainland has been killed, according to conservation officers.”
CBC reports: Even though no one was harmed, “the bear was no longer exhibiting safe behaviour around humans and could not be considered for safe coexistence.” A wildlife official was quoted saying: “Basically that’s the kind of bear that’s completely lost its fear of humans and it will walk up and grab food, likely from your hand.”
As you might imagine people are livid they didn’t do more to save the bear. Stating “the public safety threshold was exceeded” because it displayed no fear of humans. Ironic, don’t you think? And so so sad. Canada, maybe try protecting this wildlife instead of killing it off because humans encroached on its land and got too close. We don’t deserve these beautiful wild creatures.
Kateryna Kurduk, who filmed the original video, told the CBC “she and other neighbours in the area were dismayed that a lethal option for the bear was pursued. She said the real issue was a lack of green space and wildlife corridors allowing the bears to coexist. She also said more needed to be done to educate and punish people who take actions that put bears at risk, such as leaving food and garbage out.”
Wildlife officials did say “the incident is a reminder that it is up to people to do what they can to avoid attracting bears so they don’t become acclimatized to humans. Among his advice: remove bird feeders, clean up garbage and leave food in your car until you actually plan to eat it.”
