Originally published 2020-08-28.
Stills from the August 2020 video at Deep Creek, Maryland, in which a wild black bear helped itself to a family's picnic.
In August 2020 a wild American black bear walked up to a family picnic at a cabin near Deep Creek, Maryland, settled in at the picnic table and ate their food while the group sat frozen around it. One man went further, making the bear a peanut butter sandwich and touching its nose, and the clip went viral. Everyone walked away unhurt, but Maryland wildlife officials are clear that this is exactly what not to do: feeding bears is illegal in Maryland, and bears that learn to take food from people often end up being destroyed.
Below is what happened, why the encounter was riskier than it looked, and what the state's wildlife agency recommends if a bear turns up at your campsite, cabin or barbecue.
What the video shows
The footage was filmed from the deck of a friend's cabin. A family group, including a woman reported as Kaitlyn Nesbit, 29, had been eating and drinking outdoors when the bear wandered over. Rather than leaving, the people at the table stayed seated and kept still while the animal ate from their plates and cups. Some took selfies with it. A man then offered the bear a second sandwich by hand, and it accepted.
According to the account given to reporters, the cabin's owners said this bear was a regular visitor that had never caused trouble. Some in the group had outdoor experience and told the others to avoid sudden movements. Most of the party, by their own description, were frightened and stayed on the deck to film.
Why a calm bear is not a safe bear
American black bears are generally shy, and they attack people far less often than many fear. Most of their diet, up to about 85 percent, is plants, nuts and berries, and when they feel threatened they usually bluff: huffing, swatting the ground or making a short false charge before retreating.
The danger comes from food. A black bear's sense of smell is many times stronger than a dog's, and once a bear links people with an easy meal, it starts seeking them out. Wildlife biologists call this habituation. A bear that has learned to approach tables and coolers is far more likely to push its luck the next time, perhaps with a family that panics or a dog that rushes in. Adult males can weigh well over 100 kg (220 lb), and even a playful swipe can cause serious injury.
The friendly-looking picnic guest in this video had clearly already lost its fear of people. That is what made the scene so striking, and also what made it worrying.
What Maryland law and wildlife officials say
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) states plainly on its Living with Black Bears page: "It is illegal to feed bears in Maryland." The rule applies to deliberate handouts, and the agency also asks residents to remove food that lures bears in by accident.
Maryland's bears are concentrated in the western counties of Garrett and Allegany, with growing numbers in Washington and Frederick counties. Deep Creek Lake, a popular holiday area in Garrett County, sits right in the middle of bear country. In autumn, when acorns and hickory nuts are scarce, the DNR warns that bears roam further and come closer to homes as they try to build fat reserves before denning, according to a 2020 DNR advisory.
Its camping advice for a bear that wanders into camp is blunt: "DON'T FEED IT! Scare it away." Loud noises, banging pans and yelling are the recommended tools.
What to do if a bear joins your picnic
Drawing on DNR guidance and general wildlife advice, here is how to handle a close encounter:
- Stay calm and do not run. Running can trigger a chase. Back away slowly and get indoors or into a vehicle if you can.
- Never offer food. Not even to make the bear leave. It teaches the opposite lesson.
- Make yourself known. If the bear will not leave, shout, clap or bang pots, while making sure it has a clear escape route.
- Read its warnings. Woofing, jaw-popping, slapping the ground or a bluff charge mean you are too close. Give it more room.
- Keep pets leashed and inside. A dog can provoke a defensive bear and lead it back to you.
- If a black bear makes contact, wildlife experts generally advise fighting back rather than playing dead, which differs from advice for some grizzly encounters.
Keeping bears away from cabins and campsites
Most bear problems start with an easy food source. The DNR lists trash and bird feeders as the most common attractants around homes, followed by pet food, grills, fruit trees and gardens. For campers and holiday renters, its advice includes:
- Never keep food in a tent; store it in a vehicle, a building or a bear-resistant container.
- Clear away garbage and fish scraps every evening rather than burning or burying them.
- Clean grills after use and do not leave coolers on decks or tables.
- Choose another campsite if you see fresh bear tracks, droppings or damage.
- Hold off on hanging bird feeders until winter, when bears are denning.
What happens to bears that learn to beg
The picnic ended well for the family, but the long-term outlook for bears like this one is often poor. Animals that repeatedly approach people, raid cabins or damage property may be trapped and moved, and if the behaviour continues they are frequently euthanized for public safety. Relocated bears can also return or simply repeat the habit elsewhere.
In other words, a sandwich offered for a funny video can shorten a bear's life. Admiring bears from a distance, keeping food locked away and scaring them off when they come too close is the kindest thing visitors to bear country can do.
Sources: Maryland DNR: Living with Black Bears; Maryland DNR: Black Bear Activity Rises as Leaves Fall (October 2020); Wikipedia: American black bear; iHeartDogs: Black bear crashes family picnic. Video: YouTube.
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