Buzz
To be completely honest—my husband often insists I don't pay attention to him. He'll claim he's shared something, but I have zero recollection of it. None. Nada. Zilch. It got so bad that I even had my hearing tested. My doctor assured me that, despite my age and love for loud rock music, my hearing is just fine. It seems I'm selectively deaf when it comes to my husband.
So, it probably shouldn't be all that surprising that when he dared me to create a list for Mytour about beers, I ended up with a list about bears. Close, but not quite. Enjoy!
10. Teenage Bear Trip on Hallucinogenic Honey
The only places in the world where an indigenous rhododendron species produces a powerful hallucinogenic neurotoxin called grayanotoxin are the Kaçkar mountains near the Black Sea in Turkey and the foothills of the Himalayas. When bees feed on the nectar of these flowers, they produce a bitter, murky, reddish honey known as “deli bal” in Turkish, which translates to “mad honey.”
Produced in limited amounts by local beekeepers, mad honey has been a traditional remedy for a variety of conditions, such as high blood pressure and impotence. Even a small amount, whether eaten on its own or mixed into warm milk or hot water, can induce mild hallucinations and a cozy, euphoric feeling.
Of course, excessive consumption of anything comes with risks. In Turkey, dozens of people are hospitalized each year due to the side effects of over-consuming mad honey. Symptoms of a mad honey overdose include nausea, seizures, and heart arrhythmia, and in some cases, it can even be fatal.
In early August 2022, officials from the Turkish Agricultural Ministry rescued a young brown bear cub that had become disoriented and intoxicated after consuming too much mad honey. Video footage showing the bear in a trippy state, groaning as it lay belly-up in the back of a pickup truck after being rescued went viral. The cub was taken to a veterinarian, where it was monitored for several days before being released back into the wild, showing no signs of lasting harm.
9. Bears Snack on a Wealthy Couple and a Sports Icon
On July 16, 2022, a helicopter piloted by former Russian world junior biathlon champion Igor Malinovsky disappeared shortly after takeoff in poor weather conditions, including low clouds and limited visibility. Along with Malinovsky, the private flight carried a wealthy business couple, Zoya Kaygorodova and Sergey Kolesnyak.
The following day, rescuers found the charred wreckage of the helicopter on the Kamchatka Peninsula in eastern Russia, a region famous for its stunning landscapes and large population of brown bears. The remains of the three passengers (or rather, parts of them) were later discovered some distance from the crash site, mutilated and partially consumed by the brown bears that roam this remote area. Russian channel 5TV reported, "The remains of the dead tourists after the Robinson helicopter crash in Kamchatka were dragged away by bears," later describing their bodies as being "tormented by animals."
The Kamchatka Peninsula is home to one of the highest concentrations of brown bears in the world, with an estimated 10,000 to 14,000 bears inhabiting an area roughly the size of California. While brown bears are one of the largest bear species, with adult males weighing up to 1,500 pounds (680 kilograms), they typically feast on leaves, berries, salmon, insects, and small mammals, rather than tourists.
Authorities believe that some of the local bears scavenged through the wreckage of the helicopter, searching for any remains of the ill-fated trio. It remains unclear whether any of them were alive when they were dragged off.
8. Andy and the Bears
After being embroiled in a scandal involving accusations of gross misconduct and sexual abuse tied to his long-standing association with convicted billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, Prince Andrew has remained largely out of the public eye. However, earlier this year, it was revealed that the disgraced royal has found comfort in a collection of dozens of teddy bears, offering a more innocent form of companionship these days.
The grand old Duke of York is reportedly 'absolutely enamored' with his collection of 72 bears. Former Buckingham Palace maid Charlotte Briggs shared that the staff responsible for managing the collection undergoes a full day of training to ensure the teddies are properly cared for. 'When I started, I was told all about the teddies, and it was drilled into me exactly how he wanted them,' Briggs recalls. 'Everything had to be perfect. It was so strange... so unusual. After all, he was a grown man who had served in the Falklands. But he adored the teddies and was very specific about their arrangement.'
During the day, most of the bears, dressed in traditional sailor suits like the prince’s former Royal Navy uniform, are arranged on his bed in a precise order, from the smallest to the largest. At night, the staff carefully relocate them to their assigned spots, with the Duke's two favorite bears perched on mahogany thrones on either side of his four-poster bed.
Briggs left her position at the palace in 1997, and it's believed the prince has since scaled down his collection. Reflecting on her time with Andy and his cherished bears, she admits it was 'the most bizarre thing to be paid for.'
7. Bear's Love for Condensed Milk Turns Into a Problem
In July 2022, a 2-year-old female polar bear appeared to plead for help after getting a tin can stuck in its mouth. In the remote northern Russian Arctic town of Dikson, the bear was seen going from house to house, desperate for someone to remove the can of condensed milk.
Cellphone footage captures a man cautiously attempting to help the bear, but the can seems to be lodged too deeply in its mouth, pressing into its tongue. A witness recalled, 'The bear got so frustrated with the can, it came towards us and stuck its tongue out... But it was impossible to assist without causing further distress to the bear, so people eventually gave up.'
A specialist team from Moscow Zoo was dispatched and used a dart gun to safely tranquilize the bear. They removed the can and treated the small cuts on its tongue. Svetlana Akulova, the director of Moscow Zoo, explained, 'We hope everything will be fine. We left some fish near the bear, as she had been without food and water for quite some time.'
Although the bear was weak from hunger, emaciated, and dehydrated, it was expected to make a full recovery. After several days of treatment, she was released back into the wild, free from the ordeal.
6. Bear Becomes a Hideout for a Criminal
Eighteen-year-old Joshua Dobson found himself on the run from the police for auto theft and driving offenses in August 2022. These included driving with a revoked license and skipping out on fuel payment in the stolen car.
While searching for a suspect in a house in Rochdale, England, officers from Greater Manchester Police noticed something strange about a large teddy bear in the corner of a room. The bear was visibly breathing. 'When we saw this giant bear breathing during a manhunt, we knew something wasn’t right... and then we discovered our suspect crammed inside,' they later shared in a social media post.
The criminal had attempted to evade the police by hiding inside the large stuffed teddy bear, hoping to escape detection.
Dobson was ultimately sentenced to nine months in a young offenders' institution. A police spokesperson jokingly remarked that Dobson was now 'stuffed behind bars,' adding, 'Hopefully, he’ll have a bearable time inside.'
5. The Mystery of the Rumbling House in Cali
A family living in scenic Lake Tahoe, California, initially dismissed the 'odd rumbling' and 'snoring-like sounds' coming from beneath their floor. Their neighbors didn’t seem to hear it, and unable to pinpoint the source, they chose to ignore it.
When spring arrived this past April, the mother bear beneath their house awoke, along with her four young yearling cubs. Remarkably, five black bears had been hibernating under the house all winter, having found an easy entry point through an opening in the crawl space. The family, preferring to remain anonymous, reached out for help in removing these unexpected residents.
'The family could no longer ignore the likely presence of a bear under the house,' explained a spokesperson from the BEAR League, a non-profit dedicated to bear rescue and education. 'It was quite a sight when the four yearling cubs emerged from the opening and gathered on the other side of the fence before heading out into 2022,' they added.
Black bears, like the ones in this story, are fairly common in parts of California. The Department of Fish and Wildlife estimates that there are between 25,000 and 35,000 black bears in the state. Every spring, volunteers from the BEAR League are called upon to assist homeowners in safely persuading bears to leave properties once their hibernation ends.
4. Tea for Two
Royal fans were thrilled when 96-year-old Queen Elizabeth made an unexpected appearance alongside Paddington Bear in a humorous sketch for her Platinum Jubilee, celebrating her remarkable 70 years on the throne.
Viewers were thrilled to see the monarch enjoying a cup of tea and engaging in light-hearted conversation with the iconic British bear at the opening of the televised Platinum Party at Windsor Palace. Sadly, due to health concerns and the physical strain of such an important event, the Queen was unable to attend in person.
A royal spokesperson clarified that, although the Queen wouldn't be at the concert in person, she was eager for everyone to understand how much the event meant to her and how much she hoped the audience enjoyed it. The spokesperson added that the Queen, known for her sense of humor, took part in tonight’s sketch, which should come as no surprise to those familiar with her personality.
In the sketch, Paddington Bear reveals to the Queen how he keeps marmalade sandwiches under his hat, only for the Queen to share that she too keeps some in her famous handbag. Paddington then offers his congratulations to the Queen on her 70-year reign, saying: 'Happy Jubilee, ma’am. And thank you for everything.' The Queen responds kindly, 'That’s very kind.' The scene ends with the Queen and Paddington tapping out the rhythm of Queen’s 'We Will Rock You' on royal teacups, which segues into the musical performances that follow the celebration.
3. The Internet Reacts to a Sleeping 'Blue' Bear
When 45-year-old actress Alicia Silverstone, known for her role in *Clueless*, revealed on a podcast that she still shares a bed with her 11-year-old son Bear Blu, the internet erupted with astonishment, and people quickly voiced their opinions online.
Dr. Laura Markham, a clinical psychologist and best-selling author of three parenting books, strongly criticized Silverstone, calling prolonged attachment parenting 'irresponsible.' She warned that this approach could lead to significant boundary issues for Blue Bear and expose him to potential bullying due to what many view as an unusual parenting method.
Parenting expert and psychologist Reena Patel echoed these concerns, noting that 'when a child starts to question gender differences, enters puberty, or shows discomfort, that’s the time to stop. It can even happen as early as five years old.'
Silverstone, who stirred controversy years ago by revealing she chewed her son's food before transferring it directly into his mouth, joked that she expected to face criticism from mom-shamers worldwide for her unconventional 'natural' parenting approach. However, she stated that at this stage in her life, she simply didn't care about others' opinions.
2. Bear Bling
The priciest teddy bear ever created was made by German toy manufacturer Steiff in partnership with the luxury brand Louis Vuitton. This one-of-a-kind bear sold for a staggering 2.1 million dollars at a charity auction held by Christie’s in Monaco in 2000.
Steiff teddy bears have been around for an impressive 120 years, with the first teddy bear showcased at the Leipzig Toy Fair in 1903. The company itself was founded in 1880. As a high-end toy brand, a limited edition Steiff bear standing 14 inches (35 centimeters) tall could cost around $285, while a tiny 4.8-inch (12-centimeter) teddy bear Christmas ornament is priced at $121. (By the way, it’s rumored that most of Prince Andrew’s collection consists of Steiff bears.)
The incredibly expensive 17-inch (45-centimeter) Steiff Louis Vuitton teddy bear is said to have eyes made from sapphires and diamonds, with its fabric inlaid with gold. This luxurious bear was purchased by Korean collector Jessie Kim. It currently holds the Guinness World Record for the most expensive teddy bear and is proudly displayed at the Teddy Bear Museum in Jeju, Korea.
1. Hairy Porch Pirate
Toilet paper became a highly sought-after commodity during the pandemic shopping frenzy. Supermarket shelves were emptied, and some opportunists were selling toilet paper at inflated prices, taking advantage of the chaos. In August 2021, an Amazon package containing toilet paper was snatched by a porch pirate—but, in this case, the thief was a bear.
'Amazon had just dropped off the packages maybe five minutes before, and I received the alert on my security camera, followed by a second alert five minutes later,' recalled homeowner Kirstin Levine. Surveillance footage revealed a black bear swiping the package from her porch in Connecticut and casually ambling down her driveway. 'It was hysterical… I knew nothing in there was irreplaceable, so it was a fun afternoon for sure,' she added.
The stolen package was eventually discovered in a neighbor’s yard. While it had been slightly damaged and was a bit bent, it was otherwise unharmed by the ordeal.
