Video captures bear making Denali National Park sign personal scratching post
An ursine creature was caught taking part in the bear necessities at Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska.
Video shows a bear enraptured while scratching itself on the sign for the Teklanika Campgrounds in the east of the park.
"Every wildlife enthusiast enjoys watching a bear scratching its back, almost as much as the bear enjoys satisfying its itch," the park wrote in a Facebook post.
The parked warned that while the bear may seem jovial, it remains a dangerous animal. Park regulations require that visitors remain 300 yards away from bears while in parklands and 25 yards from bears when in a car.
"In addition to following Park regulations, a good rule of thumb to consider when viewing wildlife is, if an animal alters its behavior because of your presence, you are too close," the park wrote.
What to do if you encounter a bear
The National Park Service advises the following if you ever encounter a bear:
- Remain calm
- Identify yourself as a human by speaking calmly and remaining upright
- Pick up small children immediately
- Make yourself look as large as possible
- Do not allow the bear access to your food
- Do not drop your pack
- If the bear is stationary, move away slowly and sideways
- Do not run
- Do not climb a tree.
If the bear you encounter is a black bear, do not play dead if it attacks. Attempt to escape or fight back and concentrate your kicks and blows on the bear's face and muzzle.
If you are attacked by a brown bear, play dead and lay on your stomach with your legs spread and hands clasped behind your head. If the attack persists, fight back vigorously.