National Park Service’s hilarious tweet about bears has the internet in splits

Bears are large mammals that are found in various parts of the world, including North America, Europe and Asia. Despite their cuddly appearance, bears can be dangerous animals, and it is essential to take precautions when encountering them in the wild. In the spring, many bears become more active, and to prevent attacks, it is critical for people to follow safety guidelines. The National Park Service (NPS) has issued a humorous but important message to the public regarding bear safety, per My Modern Met. The NPS tweeted, "If you come across a bear, never push a slower friend down…even if you feel the friendship has run its course." They also joked in the thread, "If not friend, why friend shaped?" regarding the adorable appearance of bears.

This tweet has gone viral and has been praised by people who have experienced the feeling of being the "slower friend." However, the tweet was not just a joke, as it was followed by a thread providing bear safety advice. The NPS highlighted that while bears may appear friendly, they are wild animals and can be dangerous. With spring approaching and bears becoming more active, the NPS has published a guide on how to stay safe around bears. They wrote, "Seeing a bear in the wild is a special treat for any visitor to a national park. While it is an exciting moment, it is important to remember that bears in national parks are wild and can be dangerous."

The message from the National Park Service is particularly pertinent as many bears will soon become more active, and have, in fact, been known to attack people in the past. For instance, a mountain climber in Japan had to fend off a bear on a ridge on Mount Futago, and a Vermont woman hiking with her dog in the fall of 2022 survived a bear attack only because her Jack Russell terrier bravely intervened.

Despite the fun and lighthearted aspects of celebrating Fat Bear Week and sharing bear selfies, the NPS has released a critical guide to ensure the public stays safe around bears. The NPS Twitter account concluded the informative and humorous tweet thread by responding to various pressing inquiries from other users.

The tweet went viral with over 180k likes and thousands of comments from users. Twitter user @MovingMom1 shared, "We stayed at a hotel near Lake Tahoe, California that gave out flyers to all guests reminding them to not try to pet any bears they encountered on nearby hiking trails. 'The bears are not tame,' was the warning iirc." Another person @firern439 commented, "I actually saw my father run on air when we were camping in Banff Nat. Park years ago. We were warned at the campsite and put all foodstuffs away but they strolled in and we FLEW INTO THE CAR. Literally." 

Another Twitter user @gh_visions noted, "Who knew (until now) the National Park Service Twitter account was a blast!? Lol. Keep up the good work, and sarcasm. May you only find a bear in the woods when accompanied with your much slower friend. (Check Friendship status first)."