A couple visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park have been spotted posing for selfies with one of the native black bears. Getting close to bears is always dangerous, but the pair have further complicated the situation by using a selfie stick with their backs to the animal, leaving them unable to react quickly if it begins to show signs of aggression.
In the photo, which you can see below, a third visitor is drawing even closer, despite warnings from the National Park Service (NPS) that approaching within 50 yards, or any distance that disturbs or displaces a bear, is illegal and can result in arrest and fines.
