Authorities in Colorado, USA, are having to shut down nature trails because of a growing trend in bear selfies.
As Autumn approaches, bears in the area are going and foraging for food to store up for the winter to see them through hibernation, so sightings are increasingly common.
Add to this the modern phenomenon of selfies, and the age old issue of human stupidity, and there’s a potential problem arising.
With people seemingly willing to risk their lives to get a shot of themselves and a bear on Instagram, the police have had to step in and close several trails until the bears start to hibernate.
Denver Waters is one of the reserves that has had to turn tourists and hikers away. “We’ve actually seen people using selfie sticks to try and get as close to the bears as possible, sometimes within 10 feet of wild bears,” Brandon Ransom, Denver Water’s manager of recreation told a local news channel.
“The current situation is not conducive for the safety of our visitors or the well-being of the wildlife.”
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