Authorities in North Carolina are investigating after a group of black bear cubs was caught on video pulling a black bear cub from a tree to take a selfie.
The disturbing scene happened outside an apartment complex in Asheville around 3 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY network. The city is located in the western part of the state near the Tennessee border.
It is illegal under state law to disturb bear dens in North Carolina.
According to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, which is investigating the incident, if the den is disturbed by humans, the bear could inadvertently expose itself, leaving the cubs orphaned or dead. It is said that there is.
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Video of female bear cub screaming excitedly
Video obtained by USA TODAY Network shows four people, including what appears to be an elderly woman, trying to grab two black bear cubs perched on tree branches that extend beyond a short fence leading to an apartment complex. is reflected. An older gray-haired man wearing a baseball cap stands nearby, watching the melee but not intervening.
At one point, one of the females managed to catch one of the cubs and screamed in excitement.
After apparently holding the cub for a photo, the animal could be heard shrieking and the bear fell to the ground. The cub then ran along the inside of the fence and attempted to climb onto it as the female chased him.
During the encounter, the bear cub bit one of the humans, according to a statement from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
As of Friday, authorities had not released the names of those involved.
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“I tried to tell you to stop.”
Rachel Staudt, who lives in the apartment complex, said she saw the scene and decided to record it.
“I tried to tell him to stop, but he wouldn't listen, so I thought if I recorded it, maybe justice could be given to this cute little bear cub,” Staudt said. “I don't know how long it lasted, but it was far too long.”
Staudt said it wasn't the first time he'd seen a cub at the complex, but that people usually “have enough common sense” not to bother the cubs.
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Law enforcement is on the scene
After recording the video, Staudt alerted maintenance at the apartment complex and called police. The Buncombe County Sheriff's Office responded to the complex and contacted the State Wildlife Commission.
Ashley Hobbs, the commission's special projects biologist who responded to the scene, reported that a bear cub was wet, cold and alone sitting in a reservoir at an apartment complex. Hobbs wrote in a news release that the baby is “obviously a little traumatized” and “preciously values one of its front legs.”
Hobbs said authorities were unable to locate the second cub.
“This is not necessarily a bad thing, because mothers usually tend to keep their children in a safe place like a tree during this time of year,” Hobbs said. “She goes to forage and then it could be hours before she comes back.”
The cub was at the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge in Candler on Wednesday, Hobbs reported. It is one of two bear rehabilitation facilities in the state.
Apartment staff warn residents of danger
Hobbs said staff were able to identify the residents of the apartment seen in the video and spoke with them to see if they were “bringing the cub into the apartment or feeding it.” added. She also had tough conversations about how dangerous interacting with children is for both animals and humans, she said.
If the mother bear had been nearby, she could have tried to protect her cubs, putting people at risk, Hobbs said. She added that if an adult bear is in a position where it has to protect itself, it retroactively puts the bear at risk.
“Everyone wants to see Mama Bear curl up.”
The video went viral this week and quickly garnered reactions from people on social media.
One Reddit user posted the video and captioned it, “Threatening a bear cub to take a photo…Humanity is lost!”
“This kid needs to go to rehab. At least these people should pay for it. This is disgusting,” another Reddit user wrote in the comments section below part of the video.
Another user wrote, “I think we all wanted to see mama bear curl up.”
“That's why I support animals eating humans,” one person posted on X.
Another X user wrote, “I wish mama bear would take another photo.”
What to do if you come into contact with a bear cub
Biologists on the commission say that if someone encounters a bear cub or den, they should remain calm and quiet and leave the area as quickly as possible.
Suspect your cub is orphaned? Experts say don't pick it up. Instead, contact your local wildlife agency for help.
Natalie Neisa Alland is a senior reporter at USA TODAY. Contact her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her at X @nataliealund.