10/03/2026
🐻 A "friendly" bear is a dead bear. Here’s the truth behind what you saw in my video posted on my page:
First, Thanks to all the new followers joining the page. ❤️
My video of people calling and trying to pet that cub near the Smoky Mountains in North Carolina has sparked a massive debate, and you are exactly right that treating a wild bear like a pet is a death sentence.
Here is the official advice from the National Park Service that we all need to remember:
* Mama is nearby: Cubs are rarely alone. If a mother bear thinks her cub is cornered or threatened by a crowd, she will attack aggressively to protect it.
* It is a death sentence: When bears lose their fear of humans and associate people or cars with food, they become "food-conditioned." They grow bold, become public safety hazards, and rangers are ultimately forced to euthanize them.
* 50 yards is the law: It is federally illegal to willfully stay within 50 yards (150 feet) of a bear. If a cub walks toward people, it is our legal responsibility to actively back away.
* Keep them wild: Never crowd, corner, or offer food to a bear. If one approaches, retreat to a locked car and make loud noises (yell, clap, slam doors) to scare them off. They must associate humans with fear, not a friendly interaction.
* Report it: A cub behaving like this needs urgent help from park biologists. Report encounters in the Smokies immediately to park dispatch at 865-436-1230 so rangers can safely re-train the bear before it’s too late.
Please share this to help save these bears and keep wildlife wild! 🌲🐾
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