United States - September 14, 2024

Denali National Park, Alaska - In a charming yet cautionary video capturing the essence of wildlife behavior, a bear was recently filmed using a large wooden park sign to alleviate an itch, providing both amusement and a timely reminder about wildlife safety in Denali National Park.

The footage, which has circulated widely among wildlife enthusiasts, shows the bear rubbing itself against the sign, a common behavior for bears to remove parasites or simply for comfort. While the scene might evoke laughter, park officials are using this moment to underscore the importance of wildlife safety during the shoulder season, when human and bear interactions can increase.

"Every wildlife enthusiast enjoys watching a bear scratching its back, almost as much as the bear enjoys satisfying its itch," commented a park ranger. "However, this video serves as a critical reminder that Denali is home to many bears and other wildlife that visitors might encounter in frontcountry areas."

The park has strict regulations in place to ensure both human and animal safety. Visitors are prohibited from approaching within 300 yards of bears and 25 yards of other wildlife when on foot, with the distance reduced to 25 yards for bears when viewed from a vehicle.

Park officials emphasize that if an animal changes its behavior due to a visitor's presence, the visitor is too close. "With this information, we hope you visit Denali and satisfy your itch to view wildlife responsibly," the ranger added.