If you’re looking for a new job, live in the Southwest, and list one of your skills as “hugging bears” on your resume, a new opportunity has arisen.
On Monday, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish said it was hiring conservation officers, or “professional bear huggers.”
While the job opening description may have raised some eyebrows, the agency says interested applicants must have the ability to hike in “strenuous” conditions and be courageous enough to crawl into bear dens, and trust their coworkers enough to keep them safe during the process.
“Not all law enforcement work is this glamorous, but we would love for you to join the team where you can have the experience of a lifetime,” the agency wrote in a job posting.
The agency stressed that it did not recommend crawling into bear dens, noting that the pictures posted were part of a research project in Northern New Mexico.
“[A]ll the bears were handled safely under supervision,” the agency said, warning that their officers would “have a chat” with whoever decided to crawl into a bear den.
The job also entails educating the public about wildlife and management. Interested parties must have a background in biological sciences, natural resources conservation, or a related field.
“Conservation officer candidates must have a positive attitude, a strong work ethic, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team in remote locations across New Mexico,” an agency spokesperson told FOX Television Stations. “A sense of adventure is a must!”
Applications for this position are open until March 30.