National Park Service advises NOT to use bear attacks to kill a ‘slower friend’

The National Park Service tweeted, "If you come across a bear, never push a slower friend down…even if you feel the friendship has run its course.⁣⁣"

"If not friend, why friend shaped? What about your other friend? Seeing a bear in the wild is a special treat for any visitor to a national park. While it is an exciting moment, it is important to remember that bears in national parks are wild and can be dangerous," they followed up in another tweet, and then concluded with "When spring arrives and the snow begins to melt, many bears become more active," and linked to their website that included many tips to help survival in a bear encounter.

Some of the tips the National Park Service provides include "Keeping your distance and not surprising bears."

If a bear does notice a human, the service recommends talking to the bear in low tones so it identifies the person as a human. They recommend remaining still and calm and slowly waving your arms.

"A standing bear is usually curious, not threatening" and "A scream or sudden movement may trigger an attack. Never imitate bear sounds or make a high-pitched squeal," the service says.

In states like Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Washington people often encounter brown (or grizzly) bears. In the Northeast, Midwest, South, West Coast, and along the Appalachian mountains people often encounter black bears.

The National Park Service recommends always keeping a distance from the bear and avoiding surprising the creature.

On Twitter, one user asked what to do in the hypothetical case of the slow friend and asked, "What if you're the slower friend?"

"Check in on the friendship before you head to the woods," replied the service.

In another instance a user asked "what if they consider me a friend, but I just consider them an acquaintance?"

They replied, "Friendships are special, but they don’t happen by chance,” the agency replied. “It takes effort and trust to build a lasting friendship. Good luck."

The twitter account continued to address the hypothetical scenario of the slow friend and suggested in one tip to "Avoid awkward conversations about where the relationship is going?"