What is it about people who need to get removed from the gene pool but don't and then some of them think nothing's wrong with what they did?
They're the ones who act stupid around bison. Or are dumb enough to stick their hand near a shark's mouth and get bitten. Or they believe they're communicating with a mountain lion that's hanging around in their home.
As our daughter says, I can't even ...
But this one, this story, perhaps takes the cake. I've visited Yellowstone National Park and have seen people walk dangerously close to bison and bull elk. I thought they were stupid but if the gene pool needs a swish of bleach now and then, I'm happy to let those folks take a pint or two.
This guy, this story, though. No more suspense.
A guy waded into the river at Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska where multiple brown bears were nearby, ostensibly feeding on fish or enjoying a cool soak. Or both. He wanted a selfie with the bears. Also, this is where the park's popular livestream camera sends images worldwide 24/7.
To recap: a LOT of brown bears feeding on fish, a man with no common sense wades near them in a river (current and uncertain footing, too), and does all this on a livestream camera where the world could've watched him become a frothy mess.
It didn't happen. Guy was lucky, fortunate, God and karma and whatever other deity was watching over him, maybe he had a lucky rabbit's foot in his pocket. Whatever it was, he didn't become Bear Chow.
From the Anchorage Daily News:
National Park Service spokeswoman Anela Marie Ramos said in an email the situation was "unprecedented" for Brooks Falls during the summer area closure, June 15 to Aug. 15.
Around 6:50 p.m. Thursday, two Alaska residents and one tourist went into the closed area, the National Park Service said in a statement. The man used an emergency exit on the bear viewing platform to get down to the riverbank below, according to Ramos. Multiple bears were feeding on salmon at the time.
"In doing so, the group violated National Park Service wildlife viewing regulations, putting themselves and wildlife at risk," wrote Mark Sturm, superintendent at Katmai National Park.
In Katmai, it's prohibited to be within 50 yards of a bear that is "using a concentrated food source" like the migrating salmon at Brooks Falls.
C'mon, y'all. Don't be like these folks.
If you are, please take a few more steps closer to the bison, bears and elk. Thanks.
Featured image: Katmai National Park streaming cam screengrab
