Armenian wildlife rangers did practically everything wrong when recently releasing a brown bear, and they’re lucky nobody got killed, Wyoming Grizzly experts said.

A viral video of the Oct. 23 incident shows a 2-year-old male Armenian brown bear, a close relative of Wyoming grizzlies, turn and charge right for the ranger who lifted the gate on the bear’s cage.

The man barely manages to hop into the bed of a pickup, which speeds away while the irritated bear chases the truck, still dead set on taking a chunk out of the ranger.

Nobody was hurt, but what’s seen in the video is a terrible example of how to handle bears, federal grizzly biologist Frank van Manen told Cowboy State Daily on Monday.

“The scenario shown in the video is highly irresponsible, both from a human safety and bear safety standpoint,” he said.

Retired federal ecologist Chuck Neal of Cody agreed that what the video depicts was foolhardy.

“The man releasing the bear is practically eyeball-to-eyeball with it,” he told Cowboy State Daily. “They’re treating that animal like he was a raccoon or a fox.”

A Bear Named Ricky

Celebrity bears, such as Grizzly 399 and Grizzly 104, aren’t limited to Wyoming’s Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks.

The bear that tried to make mincemeat of the Armenian wildlife ranger is well-known in his home country. He’s named Ricky, after British comedian and animal rights activist Ricky Gervais.

In early October, Ricky was struck by a vehicle in the village of Urtsadzor, Ararat Province, Armenia.

He was taken to a wildlife sanctuary and nursed back to health. His release back into the wild was supposed to be a celebratory moment.

But Ricky apparently didn’t appreciate the humans’ kind gesture.

After his cage was taken to the release site and placed on the ground, the ranger stood atop it and pulled the front gate off.

As Ricky went after him with claws swinging and teeth bared, the ranger had to use the gate as a shield to fend off the bear as the man desperately scrambled into the pickup bed.

Stupid Human Tricks

Having a bear cage just set on the ground was stupid, Neal said. And having somebody stand on top of it and pull the gate was even stupider.

“We don’t even use cages like that anymore in North America,” he said. “The bear-management agencies here typically use culvert-style cages on wheels, pulled behind the truck.”

And the cage door is opened remotely, he added.

“Much of the time, there’s never even a need for personnel to be outside of vehicles during a release,” Neal said.

Gotta Keep ’Em Separated

Keeping people and bears separated during releases is the key to keeping everybody safe, bears and humans alike, said van Manen.

He’s the supervisory biologist for the U.S. Geological Survey’s Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team. The team frequently traps and releases bears, either for studies or to relocated them.

“All partner agencies of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team have very strict protocols in place to prevent such a dangerous scenario (as the one in the video),” he said.

“The safety of our field personnel and that of the bears in our care is our top priority,” he said. “There are lots of safety considerations and we try to anticipate and minimize risks throughout the entire process of setting and checking traps, chemical immobilization, handling, recovery and release.

“For example, in a similar situation, absolutely no personnel would be outside of a vehicle at the time of release; our field personnel pull the trap door with a very long rope operated from inside a vehicle, and drive away as soon as the trap door opens and the bear leaves the trap.”

Ricky Might Have Been Doped

Neal said that from what he could tell by watching the video, it’s highly likely that Ricky was still recovering from tranquilizers when the ranger pulled the gate on his cage.

“He looked like he was still hopped up on drugs,” Neal said. “He was clumsy and not as agile as bears usually are.”

Although it might seem safter to have a semi-tranquilized bear, that’s not the case, he added.

Bears that are trying to wake up from a tranquilizer nap are known to be extremely grouchy, Neal said.

“Bears can become aggressive when they are coming down off tranquilizers, and I think that might be what was happening in that video,” he said.

Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.

Casper, Wyoming, has been named among the most affordable places for Americans to spend their later years.

While Florida may be the preferred retirement destination for seniors who enjoy warm weather and beach escapes, others enjoy snow-capped mountains or fishing trips. 

The charming Western town offers just that – and is a good option for those prioritizing affordability in retirement. 

That is according to WalletHub’s latest ranking of the best places to retire. 

The study ranked 180 US cities across 45 metrics to determine which were the most friendly to retirees, and where they could plan an affordable retirement while maintaining the best quality of life. 

WalletHub considered factors including the cost of living, the weather, the quality of healthcare, and the number of museums a city has to offer or nearby places to fish.

Casper landed in ninth place overall, which was the second highest among Western cities on the list. 

It was beaten only by Scottsdale, Arizona, which came in sixth place.

Casper ranked the third best out of all 180 cities for affordability – which took into account factors including the cost of living, tax friendliness, the cost of in-home services, and the cost of adult health care. 

Wyoming has some of the lowest taxes in the country, and one of the lowest personal tax burdens per capita, which is a benefit for retirees on a fixed income.

The Equality State does not have an individual income tax – which lets seniors keep more of their earnings – and it does not impose an estate tax or an inheritance tax.

Casper has a population of around 59,000, according to the Census Bureau, approximately 16 percent of whom are aged 65 and over.

The cost of living in the Western city is lower than the national average, as is the price of the average home. 

According to Zillow, a typical property in the city costs $290,928 – compared to the national average of $359,892.

Casper residents also have access to quality healthcare thanks to Banner Wyoming Medical Center, which is the largest hospital in the state.

But Casper’s main draw is its potential for outdoor activities. 

Casper has a population of around 59,000, according to the Census Bureau, approximately 16 percent of whom are aged 65 and over

Casper ranked the third best out of all 180 cities for affordability – which took into account factors including the cost of living, tax friendliness, the cost of in-home services, and the cost of adult health care

Wyoming has some of the lowest taxes in the country, and one of the lowest personal tax burdens per capita (Pictured: Wyoming State Capitol)

According to Zillow, a typical property in Casper costs $290,928 – compared to the national average of $359,892

The city is dotted with beautiful parks on both banks of the North Platte River and surrounded by stunning landscapes, Travel + Leisure reported. 

Casper Mountain is intersected by over 50 miles worth of trails, which keep residents active, and locals can also enjoy camping and archery. 

Hogadon Ski Area, located a short ride from downtown, is a family-friendly resort with multiple trails and a lodge where skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels can practice their favorite winter sports, the outlet said.

Also in the top ten places to retire, according to WalletHub, are Orlando, Miami, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale and St. Petersburg in Florida. 

Cincinnati, Ohio, also made the top ten – alongside Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Much like Casper, Minneapolis is among the coldest cities in the US, with particularly harsh winters. 

But Minneapolis experiences all seasons, and summers in the city are not excessively hot, with temperatures averaging in the mid-80s°F. 

The city’s friendly environment, high-quality hospital system, beautiful surroundings and strong cultural scene meant it landed in third place in the ranking.