What would you do upon meeting a 1000-lb adult bear right in the middle of your idyllic stroll in the park? Select one: you’d curl up in a fetal position, you’d run the heck outta there like Forrest Gump (wrong answer!), or you’d sacrifice your friend you’ve known since high school who is the most annoying brat on the planet.

The US National Park Service is now officially advising against the last (and probably the most tempting) option. In a hilarious Facebook post, the Service shared a detailed PSA on what and what not to do when encountering a bear. From NOT running and NOT climbing a tree to, most importantly, NOT pushing down a slower friend, their advice is both practical and all too funny.

A whopping 52K people on Facebook seem to be loving their sense of humor, but I see it as genuine advice on friendship. ‘Cause even if it has run its course, that doesn’t mean you can say farewell to it and let Mother Nature do her job.

More info: Facebook | NPS.gov

The National Park Service has issued comedic, yet practical advice on what to do in a bear encounter

Image credits: National Park Service

The National Park Service is known for being very active on social media, both Facebook and Instagram. With 1,337,047 and 2.8m followers respectively, the Park Service accounts have been praised numerous times for having a great sense of humor.

Matthew Turner, who is the voice behind the funny captions and witty wisdom bites on National Park Service’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, said that their humor helps to spread important messages from a government agency on the internet which is saturated with information.

The Park Service has previously released this funny poster

“We could share these messages in a straightforward, no-nonsense way, but if we can get the message out using some humor or grab attention with a pop culture reference, we’ve often seen those posts, and their messages, really resonate,” Matthew told The Trust For Public Land blog.

At the same time, “our main goal is always to communicate important information: don’t get too close to wildlife, be aware of surroundings, respect the resource, as well as offer travel tips and park news.”

And it’s not the first time they’ve said friendship is the most important

Image credits: National Park Service

On the other hand, the rise of social media has transformed the ways people visit the national parks, “sometimes adversely,” said Matthew.

“Whether there’s overcrowding at overlooks that look great on Instagram, or people trying to get a perfect picture at all costs, our challenge is holding that fine line: educating people as we welcome them and showcasing the best of what the parks have to offer.”

So the next time you see a bear, bear with the Park Service. Because nobody wants you to get harmed while taking a pitch-perfect shot of the wild bear’s snout.

And many seemed to love their sense of humor