“The security was screaming get inside, get inside! And everybody was excited with phones. They were trying to take a picture or record the black bear,” said Bardhul Muca.
With people having more access to smart phones, Jessy Coltrane with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game said people appear to be getting a lot closer to wildlife than they should be to take video and pictures.
“I’ve never seen quite the masses we’re seeing this year compared to the 11 years I’ve been doing this job,” said Coltrane. “What we're seeing this year, I’ve never seen in this magnitude… Every time there's a bear, anywhere, there are people surrounding it.”
Coltrane said the number one rule is do not approach a bear, and it remains the same whether or not you have a camera.
“People feel the need to get a little bit closer. It’s not good for wildlife or for the people involved. Luckily no one was injured doing it, but that’s not to say no one is going to be,” said Coltrane.
