No charges after video shows people handling bear cubs, wildlife officers say

Wildlife officials say no charges will be filed after several people were caught on camera pulling black bear cubs out of a tree and taking selfies with them.

Anna Gurney, a spokesperson for the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, said that although the incident was "dangerous and unfortunate," it appears to have been an isolated incident.

"It is unlawful in NC to capture and keep black bears," a press release said Friday, April 19. "However, the bear cubs were immediately released, and officers have determined there will be no charges filed."

Cell phone video showed a group of people pull two bear cubs out of a tree, then hold one of the bears and take a photo. At one point, one person dropped the cub.

The person who took the video said it happened Tuesday, April 16, at Berrington Village Apartments.

Ashley Hobbs, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission special projects biologist, said she and authorities responded to the incident and found one of the cubs very wet and cold.

"We do think that the bear probably had a pretty traumatic experience," Hobbs told News 13 on Wednesday.

In Friday's news release, the NC Wildlife Resources Commission said officers and biologists have spoken with the individual involved in the recorded incident, explaining the importance of leaving bear cubs alone.

"We hope the media attention this incident has received will re-emphasize the importance of following the and to leave wild animals alone," Gurney said.