A viral video about a woman setting up a children’s pool for a visiting bear and her cub has captivated viewers on TikTok, sparking a conversation about the risks of attracting wild animals to residential areas.
The video, posted by TikTok user @morenavotre, shows what appears to be a mother bear and her cub exploring a small pool filled with water in the woman’s backyard. Text overlaid on the clip reads: “I bought mama bear and her cub a kids pool.” The footage has amassed more than 183,000 views since it was posted on May 17.
In the clip, the bears can be seen curiously poking around the pool before later gathering near a tree in the yard. The video is one of several on the poster’s TikTok account that document bears regularly visiting the property.
While many viewers found the scene endearing, such interactions can have unintended consequences.
Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, a wildlife ecologist and co-host of NBC’s Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild series, told Newsweek: “While many people assume food is the only thing that attracts bears, nonfood items like pools can also spark their curiosity.
“Research shows that due to climate change and the natural behavior of bears, these animals will look for any opportunity to cool down, and pools are no exception.”
The woman who posted the video acknowledged in the comments that there are potential risks. Her response was to @jakefromstatefarm2154 who wrote: “Isn’t this actually bad for the bear … conditioning it to come this close to people … feel like this could get the bear in trouble and teach the next generation a bad habit.”
The original poster replied: “You definitely have a point. It’s always a possibility but I’m praying that all goes well. My street is private with only 4 houses and all the neighbors are aware of the bear presence and we just tried to be cautious about it.”
Research supports the concerns raised by wildlife experts and viewers on TikTok. A November 2022 study published in PLOS One noted: “Coexistence with carnivores in the expanding urban-wildlife interface requires human mitigation to reduce wildlife visitation rates and mortality risks associated with human-dominated areas.”
The study observed that “Black bears (Ursus americanus) often occupy urban-wildland interfaces in North America and have been found to change their natural behaviors as a result of human disturbance (including human presence and development) … in the urban-wildland interface, omnivorous bears may select for anthropogenic over wild food sources, preying on livestock and consuming garbage, compost, bird feed, and fruit.”
Wynn-Grant said there are long-term dangers of habituating bears to human spaces. “Bears are very smart and have excellent memories. Instead of searching for new places to find relief or food, they often return to familiar locations where they’ve previously found what they need. This is why it’s so important not to habituate bears to human-provided resources,” she said. “While it might seem exciting to see a familiar animal pass through your neighborhood, it’s not safe for the animal or the people living nearby.”
The PLOS One study also highlighted seasonal factors influencing bear behavior: “The high caloric value and availability of anthropogenic food is especially attractive in the summer and autumn when bears need to store energy for hibernation, and can result in seasonal increases in human-bear conflicts.”
‘Dangerous Encounters’
Wynn-Grant added that the consequences of regular human interaction can be severe. She said: “When bears spend too much time in human spaces, it makes them more likely to lose their natural fear of people and increases the risk of dangerous encounters. Even if suburban America doesn’t feel like bear country, it’s important to stay bear-aware and remove anything that might attract a bear’s interest.”
Commenters on TikTok were divided. Some echoed Wynn-Grant’s concerns, including a user named Tree68 who wrote: “Please be careful. Your heart is the right place, but these are wild animals.”
Others were more enthusiastic, with user2946459897670 commenting: “This is so unbelievably cool!!” User @nikita.guss.ruby posted: “It’s such a privilege when wild animals find sanctuary on your property. This is just amazing!”
Wynn-Grant urged caution for anyone encountering bears in their neighborhood, noting “wild animals are just that—wild.”
“Being ‘bearwise’ means remembering that the outdoors is their home, and we need to be mindful guests. Never feed or approach bears, secure all garbage, clean and store grills and fire pits properly, store any toys when not in use and make sure young children and pets are supervised when outside. Remember, the best way to view wild animals is in the wild and from a safe distance,” Wynn-Grant said.
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok.
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