I've spent a lot of time in the backcountry where apex predators live. Whether it's the mountain lions that dwell in my neighborhood or my hunting grounds—where one stalked me—or the deep, dark timbers where black bears roam, you keep your head on a swivel. I'm heading up to grizzly country next week for a deep woods dirt bike fly fishing trip, and you'd best believe I'm bringing my sidearm. After all, you're in their home, not yours.
And despite humans having egos that somehow make us believe we're at the top of the food chain, we absolutely aren't. Nor are these friend-shaped animals actually our friends, as their teeth, claws, and general demeanor should tell you.
But despite our big brains, humans are extremely stupid creatures and when they see something that looks warm, cuddly, and fuzzy, they tend to try and befriend it. I can't believe I have to say this, but they shouldn't. And it generally results in that person getting hurt, being killed, and the animal being an animal getting the sharp end of a rifle round. This is exactly the case with this motorcyclist who was killed and dragged off into the forest while riding in Europe and trying to befriend a number of bears.
Yeah, don't do that.
The motorcyclist in question was Omar Farang Zin, and he was riding the famous Transfagarsan road made popular by Top Gear in Romania. It's a destination for all motorcyclists and drivers, as the road is this insane mountain highway that climbs through the peaks and valleys, offering everyone hairpin after hairpin, and vistas the world over. The area is also home to a healthy population of brown bears, which are far more aggressive than the more common black bears I have in Utah.
They've bigger. They're meaner. They're bigger. You don't screw with brown bears. Like at all.
And yet, Zin's social media account shows pictures of the motorcyclist with the bears, with bears around him, and him attempting to feed the bears. My guy, this was such a bad idea. And the authorities state as much, too. Armand Chiriloiu, director of the Arges Forestry Directorate, told the Romanian Observator News, "He got off the motorcycle and offered the bear food. The Italian tourist's phone was also found, which contained some pictures prior to the attack. With the bear approaching... pictures, close-ups." And according to his riding partners, as one bear approached, it attacked him, and dragged him off into the forest as they contacted emergency responders.
Moreover, when the responders arrived at the scene, and located Zin's body after the bear had mauled him to death, they realized the same bear was stalking them, too, with Dragos Onea-Arges from the local Mountain Rescue group stating, "The bear followed us the whole time. She was very agitated. She attacked us a few times, too."
The bear was later killed.
Folks, with summer now in full swing across the Northern hemisphere, and bears fully out of hibernation, along with female sows having cubs running alongside of them in many places, and with more and more human encroachment on bear territory, it's up to you to stay bear aware. It's also up to you to not be an absolute idiot and try to feed the bears. They are in fact not friends, despite what Winnie the Pooh might've led you to believe.
