The bears are frequent visitors to a fish weir, where pink salmon are running.
Advertisement
Sogge described the man’s costume as realistic, unlike the drug dealer who was arrested by Alaska cops during a 2011 episode of “Alaska State Troopers” while wearing a shoddy bear costume. The man ran “waving and jumping” up to the weir gate, trying to get the attention of a sow with cubs.
“Our job is to count fish”, Sogge said of Cenicola’s efforts, which fall outside the day-today routine of Fish and Game employees.
But the crowd, which was kept at a safe distance, watched as a man ran over to the bears donned in a full costume, complete with a bear head. He then jumped up and down and got within five to 10 feet of the bears, according to the AP.
The head of the Fish and Game department said the incident could have ended tragically because a mother will not be put off attacking by a bear suit if she fills her cubs are in danger.
“The technician’s report of the incident said Cenicola told the man he could be cited for wildlife harassment and the costumed man left without identifying himself.”
Troopers are investigating, spokeswoman Megan Peters said.
Unidentified, the man drove away without taking off his costume.
The man’s bear suit is described as “realistic”, probably more so than this one. “You figure it out”, he said before driving off.
Advertisement
Haines is about 500 miles east of Anchorage, near the top of Alaska’s southeastern panhandle.
