Selfies with a black bear may seem crazy, but that is exactly the types of photos some people are taking, despite the obvious risks.
Lake Tahoe in California is home to a large population of black bears, as well as being a favorite hiking spot for tourists. Wildlife officials are concerned that visitors to the area are taking pictures of themselves with the wild animals.
"We've had mobs of people that are actually rushing toward the bears trying to get a 'selfie' photo. It is presenting a safety issue. We are afraid someone is going to get attacked," Lisa Herron, spokesperson for the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, said.
Bears rarely attack humans, but encroachment of humans on the native territories of the animals can make the bears feel threatened, driving them to fight.
Black bears are the most common bears in North America. As opportunistic eaters, they'll munch on anything from berries to mammals, and develop a taste human food and garbage quite quickly. Adult members of the species generally weigh between 170 and 300 lbs. They hibernate around six months each year. The bears are largely unafraid of humans, and will approach fairly closely to people watching them. At least once recently, a bear came just two feet away from a group of tourists. This behavior on the part of the bears encourages some people to come in for a closer look - and better selfie, despite the obvious risks.
"There were like 30 people taking pictures of themselves with the bears. I was concerned. You never know what's going to happen with bears, but people just stuck around. They weren't scared at all of the people... [S]ome parents were trying to keep the kids away," Manut Buapet, a recent visitor to the park, said.
Some hikers are also leaving trails, in order to get close to the large mammals. This not only presents dangers to the visitor and bear, but can also damage the ecosystem around hiking paths. Some drivers are abandoning their cars, as they run toward the animals.
Officials of the U.S. Forest Service at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center in South Lake Tahoe say the problem has now become serious enough that they felt the need to issue a public warning. Some officials are even considering shutting down the tourist attraction if visitors continue the dangerous behavior.
Park officials do not have the required staff to monitor tourists as they interact with the massive animals.
Bears are attracted to the area during autumn due to the arrival of kokanee salmon in a local creek.
Note: This story was updated on October 28, 2014 to reflect that the selfies were taken with black bears.
