Video shows people pulling bear cubs from tree for selfie

North Carolina state authorities are investigating after a group of people were filmed pulling black bear cubs from a tree to take a selfie.

The disturbing scene occurred outside an Asheville apartment complex around 3 p.m. Tuesday, the Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. The city is in the western part of the state, near the Tennessee-Tennessee state line.

It is illegal to disturb a bear den in North Carolina under state law.

If a den is disturbed by humans, bears may be inadvertently exposed to their den and cubs may become orphaned or die, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, which is investigating the incident.

Horses, beavers and squirrels, oh my! Here are all the animals in the United States state.

Cub video shows woman screaming in excitement

Video obtained by the USA TODAY Network shows four people, including what appears to be an older woman, trying to catch two black bear cubs, perched on a tree branch extending over a short fence leading to the apartment. An older man with gray and white hair stands nearby, wearing a baseball cap, watching the melee and does not intervene.

At one point, one of the women managed to catch a cub and screamed with excitement.

After apparently taking photos while holding the cub, an animal cry is heard and the bear falls to the ground. The boy then runs inside the fence and tries to climb it while the woman chases him.

According to a release from the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, a bear cub bit one of the people during the interaction.

As of Friday, authorities had not publicly identified those involved.

What do otters eat? Here’s what’s on the menu for river and sea otters.

“I tried to tell them to stop”

Rachel Staudt, who lives in the apartment complex, said she saw the scene and decided to record it.

“I tried to tell them to stop, but they wouldn’t listen, so I thought recording it might help get justice for the sweet cub,” Staudt said. “I don’t know how long it lasted, but it was way too long.”

Staudt said it’s not the first time she’s seen the cubs at the complex, but said people “usually have enough common sense” not to disturb them.

“Scared young raccoon”: Animal leaves 2 injured at Hersheypark as guests scream and run

Law enforcement called to the scene

After recording the video, Staudt alerted maintenance at the apartment complex, who called law enforcement. The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office responded to the complex and then contacted the state wildlife commission.

Ashely Hobbs, a special projects biologist with the commission who responded to the scene, reported that a bear cub was wet, cold and alone, sitting in a retention pond at the apartment complex. In a press release, Hobbs wrote that the cub was “visibly a little traumatized” and “favoring one of his front legs.”

Authorities were unable to locate the second cub, Hobbs said.

“Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, because usually at this time of year, moms will place their young in a safe place like a tree,” Hobbs said. “She will go get food and then come back for it, which could happen several hours later.”

On Wednesday, the cub was at the Appalachian Wildlife Refuge in Candler, one of two bear rehabilitation centers in the state, Hobbs reported.

An apartment staff member warned residents of the danger

A staff member was able to identify the apartment residents in the video, Hobbs said, adding that she spoke with them to make sure “they did not bring the little one into the apartment or had fed him.” She also said they had a stern conversation about the danger of interacting with the cubs, both for the animal and humans.

If the mother bear had been there, Hobbs said, she might have tried to protect her cubs, putting people in danger. If an adult bear finds itself in a position where it has to defend itself, she adds, it retroactively presents a danger to the bear.

“Everyone hopes to see mama bear arrive”

The video, which went viral this week, sparked a rapid reaction from internet users on social media.

A Reddit user posted the video and captioned it: “Terrorizing cubs for photos… humanity lost!”

“Now this kid has to go to a rehab center. These people should at least pay this bill. Disgusting behavior,” another Reddit user posted in the comments section below part of the video.

“I think we were all hoping to see mama bear rolling around,” another user wrote.

“This is why I applaud when animals eat humans,” one person posted on X.

Another X user wrote: “I wish Mama Bear would show up for one more photo.”

What to do if you come into contact with bear cubs

Mission biologists say if anyone encounters cubs or a den, they should remain calm and leave the area as soon as possible.

Do you suspect a bear cub has been orphaned? Don’t pick it up, experts say. Instead, contact your local wildlife agency for assistance.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Contact her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cubs removed from tree in North Carolina anger wildlife officials.