People being chased by bears isn’t all that uncommon, especially during this time of the year. Bears are waking up from hibernation hungry and ready to go searching for food. So tourists often find themselves keeping out of the way . One police station in Northwestern Massachusetts has sent out a warning that is quite the opposite: Humans should not chase bears through the woods–especially while drunk and wielding a dull hatchet.
The North Adams Police Department post the warning on May 11, strongly advising against taking such wild and specific actions.
“**Chasing bears through the woods drunk with a dull hatchet is strongly not advised**”
One may ask why a police department may need to have such specifics in a warning. The reason is because, according to the Facebook post , this actually happened. Someone chased a bear with a hatchet.
“The North Adams Police Department is urging everyone to NOT chase bears through the woods with a dull hatchet, drunk. Yes that really did happen tonight. We understand there are bears in the area. If you see a bear, LEAVE IT ALONE and call us. We certainly don’t need anyone going all Davy Crockett chasing it through the woods drunk with a dull hatchet. It is just a bad idea and not going to end well. It will however, certainly end you up in jail.”
Jail is exactly where the hatchet-wielding drunkard went. Due to his intoxication, police were left with no choice but to hold the man in protective custody until he could reveal his story. Police weren’t entirely sure why the man was chasing a bear. They just know that he was doing so. In the Facebook post they asked followers to take a guess at the potential reasons for the man actions.
Springtime is bear time because they are waking up hungry and going on the prowl for food. Many cities have guidelines for citizens to follow should they see a bear. Chasing after it with a hatchet is not in those guidelines at all.
Today in “things that shouldn’t need to be said:” Don’t chase a bear with a dull hatchet. http://t.co/QmXH6IFe5l
— Adam Shanks (@adamcshanks) May 12, 2015
According to The Berkshire Eagle, the man thought he was being brave and protecting children . The local news source spoke with North Adams Police Sgt. James Burdick who updated the world on the reasons behind the man’s actions.
“[He was] claiming he was trying to protect children. I would guess in his inebriated state he felt he was doing good.”
Burdick went on to say that, though the Police department gets a lot of bear calls, this was the first one that involved a drunk man armed with a hatchet.
The man that chased the bear was 60 year-old Bradford Carpenter. He was released from custody Tuesday morning without being charged.
If you see a bear in your local neighborhood call the police. Please, do not get drunk, grab a hatchet, and chase after the bear.
[Photo via wikimedia.commons.org]
