Victor the beloved black bear loved to wander around Mammoth Lakes, California. All the locals knew him. They said he was used to being around people, and wasn't bothered by most human behavior. A host at the area's Pine City campground said Victor was always very calm, mild-mannered, and that "it took a lot to spook Victor."
But then irresponsible campers showed up. And they spooked Victor.
And he wound up dead.Sign the petition to demand that authorities set an example and hold these campers responsible for their actions, which resulted in Victor's death.Whenever Victor would show up at the campground, responsible campers knew exactly what to do: they removed their food, stepped significantly back, and made sure others in the area knew Victor was around. That's it. Nice and simple. In fact, the campground host worked hard to teach campers how to safely interact with bears.
But then a group showed up and decided not to follow that easy protocol. They started grilling steaks, which attracted Victor's attention. Instead of securing their food and moving away, they decided to ignore the danger and
hop on their phones to start filming him instead.They carelessly stayed nearby as Victor went through their dinner and their groceries - and then,
ultimately, a camper got way too close while filming him. That was what finally spooked sweet Victor, and he reacted defensively out of fear. Luckily, no one was significantly injured.
Wildlife officials were called and when they arrived on the scene,
they shot him as a danger to the public.
His body was then unceremoniously dumped at a landfill, blood draining out onto the dirt below, a final insult to a bear whom so many loved.
Native American tribes in the area, the campground host, and many other locals were all devastated and outraged by his death. Once the Bishop Paiute Tribe heard about Victor's killing, members of the tribe went to the landfill to gather his body and provide him with a proper burial. The Tribe arranged a ceremony to honor his life in recognition of the sacred role Victor and other bears play.
Victor was just an innocent black bear - and unlike grizzly bears, they're generally safe to be around humans. Wildlife must be treated with respect, so they don't end up paying the price for our careless actions with their lives!
This could have all been avoided if these campers had not behaved so selfishly and recklessly. Sign this petition to demand that authorities hold the campers accountable and improve wildlife education! 