The newest alien species has landed on Hawaii’s shores — only this one is no noxious bug or exotic plant.
Try 7 feet tall, 650 pounds and capable of eating you for breakfast.
A Grizzly Experience, a show featuring North America’s most fearsome predator, the grizzly bear, has taken up residence as one of the featured attractions at this year’s 50th State Fair, which opened Friday night at Aloha Stadium.
The attraction features 9-year-old Tonk, the largest of the show’s grizzlies, plus two smaller bears: 250-pound Yogi, 3, and Maggie, 1.
The Florida-based show travels across the country to various fairs, festivals and sports shows, allowing the public to get up close to the bears while learning a little about them. When they’re not on the road, the bears live in a 2-acre habitat in Naples, Fla.
On Friday before the fair opened, the two lumbering yet surprisingly quick males were doing what they love to do best: wrestle.
Owner-trainer Dexter Osborn explained that in the wild, such activity prepares them for survival, allowing the solitary creatures to fight off competitors for the right to the best fishing spots and females for breeding.
Osborn, an experienced trainer who has worked around exotic animals including wild cats and elephants, said each of the bears was donated to him when they were young. Tonk, for example, came from a North Georgia zoo.
A majestic animal with the classic grizzly silvery sheen in his fur, Tonk has worked on various TV shows, commercials and radio productions and has performed in live stage shows across the country.
Throughout the day at the 50th State Fair, the public can witness Tonk and the younger bears interacting with Osborn, who will talk about bear safety and other bear-related topics.
One of the most frequent questions he hears is, What do you do if you encounter a bear in the wild?
"You change its mind," he said. "Give him something else to think about."
Take off the backpack you’re wearing and throw it at the bear, he said, or take out those peanuts you’re carrying and throw those.
"If you can change his mind, it’ll give you time to get out of harm’s way."
Playing dead might work if it’s a mom trying to protect her cubs, Osborn said, explaining that you’ve effectively removed the threat. But in most circumstances it’s not a good idea.
"You just made (catching you) a whole lot easier," he said.
The 50th State Fair runs weekends through July 6; the bears will be there weekends only through June 8.