Want the know the fastest way to escape from a bear? According to the National Park Service, it’s not by sacrificing your friend.
Bears have started coming out of hibernation as the weather gets warmer and the National Park Service wanted to let everyone know that pushing a slower friend in the way of a bear will definitely get you in trouble in more ways than one.
“If you come across a bear, never push a slower friend down… even if you feel the friendship has run its course,” the National Park Service tweeted.
They added in a follow-up post: “If not friend, why friend shaped? Seeing a bear in the wild is a special treat for any visitor to a national park. While it is an exciting moment, it is important to remember that bears in national parks are wild and can be dangerous.”
The thread sparked a ton of questions from curious park-goers. “What if you’re the slower friend?” Twitter user Doug Jones. “Check in on the friendship before you head to the woods,” the NPS replied.
Another Twitter user named Jeff Brown wanted to know what to do “if the bear looks really hungry.” “Don’t they deserve a lil snack as a treat?” Brown tweeted. “Do you consider yourself the faster or slower of the two friends?” the NPS responded.
Although the post was light-hearted, the agency also made sure to post a link to its guide on what people should do if they spot a bear, which includes advice like “talking calmly” so the bear can identify you as a human.
Source: https://twitter.com/NatlParkService/status/1630653487825526786