US wildlife agency now hiring ‘professional bear huggers’

Earlier this week, the government agency announced in a Facebook post that conservation officers “must be able to hike in strenuous conditions, have the courage to crawl into a bear’s den and trust their staff to look after you.” during work procedures”. The application deadline for the job postings is March 30.

This recruitment appeal was released alongside images of conservation specialists cuddling newborn black bear cubs after retrieving them from their snow-covered black bear den.

In the post, the department contextualized those images, writing, “PS we do not recommend crawling in bear dens. This was part of a research project in northern New Mexico and all bears were safely handled under supervision. If you do, our officers will need to speak to you. PPS Don’t feed the bears.”

So far this post has over 2,500 likes and hundreds of comments. According to a New York Post report, applicants would need a background in natural resource conservation, life sciences, or a related field. They are sent to remote locations in New Mexico.