SMbears

Authorities in Alaska want to talk to some nutter who donned a bear costume and started harassing actual real life bears.

Rather him than me.

The man started harassing a bear and two sows who were feeding on pink salmon at a weir on the Chilkoot River. He was spotted jumping up and down near the cubs by a crowd of people who’d gathered to see the bears feed.

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No one really knows why he did this.

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Alaska Fish and Game technician Lou Cenicola, who was present at the time, moved the sow out of the way for the man’s safety, and asked him what he was doing.

The man refused to identify himself, telling Cenicola: “You have the license plate number. You figure it out.”

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The man then drove off, still in full bear costume.

The incident has been reported to troopers, and if found the man could face wildlife harassment charges.

Stephen Kirkpatrick Stephen Kirkpatrick

Alaska Fish and Game Assistant Area Management Biologist, Mark Sogge, said this was an unusual incident for his team to deal with. They’re used to more mundane activities:

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“Our job is to count fish,” Sogge said.