• Outdoors Outdoors

Parkgoer shares concerning photo of tourists surrounding grizzly bear at national park: 'People with cameras feel so entitled'

The behavior by these tourists exhibits a carelessness and disrespect for the wildlife.

The behavior by these tourists exhibits a carelessness and disrespect for the wildlife.

Photo Credit: iStock

When most people lay eyes on a bear, they are overcome with the primal instinct to survive. This likely includes getting a safe distance away — or just leaving the situation altogether. 

These tourists did not have such instincts. 

A Redditor took to r/Banff to share a photo of several tourists, presumably at Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada, standing right across a rather flimsy-looking fence from a grizzly bear. 

The behavior by these tourists exhibits a carelessness and disrespect for the wildlife.
Photo Credit: Reddit

"Ah the season of 'the wire fence is so protective from grizzly bears!'" the Redditor captioned their post. "Don't be dumb tourists. This isn't a zoo, and a wire fence isn't protecting you." 

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service recommends never approaching a grizzly bear and always staying at least 100 yards away from them — or about the length of a football field. 

The behavior by these tourists exhibits a carelessness and disrespect for wildlife. The privilege of witnessing the natural world firsthand is paramount to our future here on Earth, because climate awareness begins with respect for nature. But increased interactions between humans and nature should be about understanding and appreciation, not endangerment

FROM OUR PARTNER

Save $10,000 on solar panels without even sharing your phone number

Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers that can help you save as much as $10k on installation.

To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best local options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner.

Watch now: Take a peek inside Alex Honnold's new solar-powered van

Take a peek inside Alex Honnold's new solar-powered van
0 seconds of 57 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:57
00:57
 

This kind of recklessness from tourists inhibits the connection that other individuals might be trying to have with nature. Watching these events unfold is stressful for bystanders and potentially for the park rangers whose job it is to protect the wildlife in the park. 

Others took to the comment section of this Redditor's post to express their frustration with the tourists' actions. 

"People with cameras feel so entitled to just walk up to the beasts," one person commented

"It only takes one to litter before everyone litters," another said, "one to walk over to a bear before they all do."

Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.

Cool Divider