81-year-old woman thrown in jail for feeding bears

It’s like those times your grandma would sneak you another cookie when Mom wasn’t looking because it would spoil your dinner. Only this is with unpredictable black bears. With huge teeth … and razor-sharp claws.

81-year-old Mary Musselman is behind bars for repeatedly feeding black bears from her home in Sebring, Florida.

She had been warned on several occasions to stop feeding these wild animals, as it interrupts their natural instincts.

“Feeding bears results in bears losing their fear of people,” explained Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission spokesperson, Gary Morse.

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Imagine if bears lost their fear of humans. If you’re picturing a snugglefest with Winnie the Pooh or Barney — think again. These animals are wild, untamed and can kill you in a matter of seconds. Sure lady, let’s feed them so they come closer … and watch them snack on our limbs when we don’t have anything left to give them. Who doesn’t love an angry, 800-pound black bear chasing you down because they know you have food?

FWC officials explained that they had to euthanize a black bear that Musselman kept feeding last year. Using informative videos and pamphlets, officers went out of their way to educate Musselman about the dangers of feeding the bears.

Morse knew she wasn’t going to stop.

On Nov. 8 of last year she was issued a warrant and she still didn’t stop. When FWC officers returned to Musselman’s home on Nov. 19, they found she was feeding two more bears.

After being forced to appear in court on Dec. 6, a judge ordered that she stop feeding all wildlife animals and that FWC officers were to check on her residence weekly.

That still didn’t stop her.

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On Dec. 24, Musselman appeared in court and again admitted to feeding two to three bears large amounts of food.

It seemed as though you could give this woman a million warnings, those bears were still going to get fed. It was her life's mission. She was convinced that these animals would starve without her.

The last straw came on Dec. 29 when a judge ordered FWC officials to arrest her. Musselman would not go down without a fight. She resisted arrest, threatening to kill the officials who came to arrest her. Musselman is currently in jail being held without bond and facing charges of parole violation and battery on a lawman.

She is scheduled to appear in court on Mar. 3. Who wants to bet she's back to feeding those bears the minute she’s released? That is, of course, if they haven’t starved by now.

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