Animals are cool. They’re majestic, fascinating and sometimes even downright adorable. But let’s be clear about one thing—bears are not your friends. They’re not big, cuddly forest pals just waiting to be hand-fed trail mix and given a belly rub. Yet, somehow, some people still think it’s a good idea to get cozy with a 600-pound apex predator. Case in point: this guy, who thought lying down in front of a bear was a solid life choice.
In a clip that seems to encapsulate “natural selection at work,” this man lounges on the ground while a massive bear casually tugs at his shirt. At first, it almost looks playful—like a dog messing with its owner. But then, in the ultimate display of bad decisions, the bear yawns and seems to casually fits the guy’s entire head in its mouth at the end of the video. Yep, you read that right. For a brief moment, his noggin was a potential snack. That seemed to jolt the guy into the reality of what could happen. Hard to say if the bear was actually interested in a human-flavored meal that day, but still—what goes through some people’s heads? At least this guy might still have a head!
Wild animals don’t follow Disney movie logic. They don’t owe us kindness, and they certainly don’t care about your trust in them. A bear might seem chill one moment and then suddenly remember it’s built for hunting, not hugging–Even if it has spent its entire life around people. So, if you ever find yourself thinking, Hey, I bet I could be best friends with that bear, do yourself a favor—don’t try it. Give wildlife (even if you think they are not wild–they are) the respect (and distance) they deserve, and leave the trust exercises to your coworkers at the next team-building retreat.
