If there is a bear in my backyard, can I go pet it?

Let me ask you a question, do you know this man?

This is Timothy Treadwell, he was a bear enthusiast who lived with grizzly bears in Alaska for 13 years. Timothy had an intense passion for Grizzlies, even to the point where he founded a bear protection organization called Grizzly People. In the Documentary ‘Grizzly Man’ by Werner Herzog, you can see him petting and playing with them. Unfortunately in 2003, whilst he and his girlfriend were camping in the park they were attacked and killed by a grizzly bear.

So you see, this man who loved bears, who had lived with them peacefully for 13 years, met his demise at the hands of the animal which he had devoted his life to protecting.

So no, please don’t go pet that bear.