Bear, Bigfoot or Hoax?

by
posted on August 7, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
wilder_ah2015_fs.jpg (22)

undefinedOK, so I'll spoil everything up front: The video is (maybe?) one of a bear. But it's a bear that's acting a bit uncharacteristically, so I'd encourage you to read on.

The video embedded below went viral yesterday, and for good reason. Purportedly recorded in northern New Jersey, it features a bear casually strolling through the suburbs—exclusively on its hind legs. While it's not at all uncommon for bears to go bipedal to investigate their surroundings, etc., they don't often go on a two-legged walk, just for the heck of it. The last bear I knew to do that was named Yogi. After all, why wander around on two legs when you've got four?

The bear seen here, though, didn't appear to get that memo. And, apparently, it's not the first time the bear's been caught performing such antics. Locals told a nearby NBC affiliate that they'd seen the animal up on its hind legs on a number of other occasions.

At first blush, a lot of folks are assuming that the whole thing is a hoax. Given that the video doesn't get an up close and personal look at the bear, it'd be easy to fake. A second example though, seen here and posted by a Facebook user, seems a little more definitive.

So, what do you say? Is the video below legitimate? Experts say that if it is a bear, it could be nursing a hurt paw—hence the new posture. Check out the video and let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Latest

Ledehiviz Shooting Systems Celebrate
Ledehiviz Shooting Systems Celebrate

HIVIZ Shooting Systems Celebrates 30 Years of Innovative Excellence

HIVIZ Shooting Systems, a leader in high-visibility sight solutions, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Since its founding in 1996, the company has offered products that improve sight visibility and performance through cutting-edge fiber-optic and tritium-based systems.

Know How: Prairie Dogs for Practice

Use a dog town to warm up for big-game seasons, test gear and more.

Heritage Outdoor Group Acquires Badlands

Heritage Outdoor Group ("Heritage") has announced the acquisition of Badlands, a hunting backpack, gear and apparel brand, from W. C. Bradley Co. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

#SundayGunday: Winchester 250th Anniversary Ammunition

On this week's #SundayGunday, we’re taking a walk down memory lane, celebrating Winchester Ammunition and its salute to the greatest 250 years a country has ever lived. This limited-edition run of USA 250th Anniversary Edition ammunition pays homage to the red-blooded Americans who sacrificed themselves for the betterment of a nation.

What Summer Buck Sightings Tell Us

Dreaming of fall? Here are some things to look for during your summertime scouting.

One Out of Every Four Hunters Won’t Hunt in 2026

One out of every four hunters who hunted the 2025 season will not hunt in 2026. That startling statistic was arrived at by Southwick Associates after conducting a survey of 28,447 hunters in 20 states.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.