New Mexico Wildlife Agency Says It's Looking for 'Professional Bear Huggers'
Michelle Milliken
You're on the job hunt and you look through open positions: copywriter, administrative assistant, social media manager, bear hugger... wait. Bear hugger? Yes, there is an employer looking for just that.
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish recently took to social media with the aim of filling a few open positions.
In an Instagram post, they wrote, "Now hiring professional bear huggers.
"Must have ability to hike in strenuous conditions, have the courage to crawl into a bear den, and have the trust in your coworkers to keep you safe during the process."
The post is accompanied by a smiling man snuggling a bear cub. The smiling man is a conservation officer, which is the position the post was advertising, but "bear hugger" would look so much better on a resume, wouldn't it? Despite the less exciting title, the agency said the job will give people the experience of a lifetime.
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish's website says conservation officers patrol state waters and lands, educate the public about wildlife and wildlife management, conduct wildlife surveys, capture problem animals, investigate wildlife damage to crops and property, and help relocate wildlife, among other tasks.
Applicants must have a Bachelor of Science degree, but that degree can be in anything from law enforcement or criminology to natural resources conservation or forestry.
While the post notes that residents can apply through March 30, there were some disclaimers at the end regarding the black bears officers may encounter. (Black bears are the state animal of New Mexico.)
The post says, "P.S. we do not recommend crawling into bear dens. This was part of a research project in Northern New Mexico and all bears were handled safely under supervision. If you do, our officers will have to have a chat with you.
"P.P.S. Don’t feed the bears."
For the rest of us, the bear hugging should be off the table, too, but you can surely get those binoculars out and enjoy watching them from a safe distance.
