A man in a bear costume escaped from authorities grasp after harassing a mother bear and her two cubs in Alaska.
Authorities have confirmed the man in question—who from here on in we will simply call Bear Man—was seen at the Chilkoot River in Southeast Alaska, where locals like to gather on the weir to watch bears feast during the salmon run.
On this particular day, a relatively large crowd had formed to watch the mother bear and her two cubs feed. It was the perfect day for Bear Man to make himself known.
As the crowd looked on at the wildlife from a safe distance, Bear Man appeared out of nowhere and ran through the area. With his face safely concealed in a bear mask, Bear Man jumped up and down, at one point getting only meters away from the cubs.
An Alaska Fish and Game technician who was on the scene moved the mother bear for the Bear Man’s safety.
It’s important to note that Bear Man’s costume wasn’t of the cute, Halloween variety. According to the Associated Press, the costume was realistic. In fact, it was so realistic it came complete with a full head that covered the man’s face, but which did not obstruct his speech, as he was able to flippantly dismiss authorities when asked his name by replying, “You have the license plate number. You figure it out.”
After this brief exchange, Bear Man hopped into his vehicle and drove off. Never removing his mask, his identity remains a mystery.
“This is not the first time we’ve encountered a man in a bear suit,” Megan Peters, a spokesperson for the local troopers, said in an interview with the Associated Press. When identified, Bear Man could be charged with wildlife harassment.
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