Colorado Bear Finds A Trail Camera And Surprises Everyone With Hundreds Of Selfies
Secrets of wildlife often remain hidden, tucked away in forests and mountains where humans rarely venture. But every so often, one of those secrets slips into view, giving us a glimpse of the natural world’s unexpected charm.
That’s exactly what happened in Colorado, where a curious black bear turned into an internet star—simply by discovering a wildlife camera.
The camera was one of many set up by the Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) team to study local wildlife behavior.
Usually, these devices capture routine images of deer, coyotes, or the occasional bear passing by. But when the team checked one particular camera, they were stunned to find it filled with more than 400 close-up photos of a single furry “model.”
It turned out that a black bear had stumbled upon the camera and decided to investigate. What followed was nothing short of a full-on photo shoot.
The bear’s selfies showed a surprising range of expressions—wide-eyed curiosity, tilted-head poses, and even what looked like smirks. It was as though the animal had discovered its inner influencer, striking different looks for an invisible audience.
For the OSMP team, this wasn’t just research data. It was comedy gold. Philip Yates, an OSMP spokesperson, explained in an interview:
“In this instance, a bear took a special interest in one of our wildlife cameras and took the opportunity to capture hundreds of selfies. These pictures made us laugh, and we thought others would, too.”
They shared the images on social media, never expecting what happened next. Within days, the selfies went viral, spreading across platforms as people fell in love with the bear’s antics.
Commenters praised the animal’s photogenic skills, joking that it was “unbearably cute” and had the potential to become the next social media star.
Some even imagined the captions the bear might use if it did have an Instagram account—“#NoFilter” seemed to be a fan favorite.
But beyond the humor, the selfies carried a deeper message. By making people laugh and smile, they also sparked a stronger connection to wildlife.
The photos reminded people that animals aren’t just distant creatures living in the wild—they’re curious, playful beings with personalities of their own.
Yates highlighted that exact point, saying the joy people feel from moments like this can help raise awareness about the importance of protecting natural spaces and the creatures that call them home.
And he’s right. When you see a bear mugging for the camera like it’s about to post on Instagram, the barriers between humans and wildlife break down. Suddenly, conservation feels personal.
In the end, this black bear didn’t just make people laugh—it became an unexpected ambassador for wildlife conservation. Its goofy photo spree highlighted the value of preserving wild spaces and reminded us that sometimes the best messengers for nature are the animals themselves.
Who knew that a single curious bear in Colorado could capture hearts worldwide—one selfie at a time?
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