New Mexico Game and Fish is now hiring 'professional bear huggers'

Bear lovers rejoice: The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is hiring for "professional bear huggers."
The department posted an adorable job listing on Facebook on Monday, featuring precious snaps of conservation officers cuddling baby bears.
Unfortunately, a love of bears is not the only qualification you'll need to become a conservation officer. The job listing with the formal title of the position specifies candidates should have a bachelor's degree in "biological sciences, police science or law enforcement, natural resources conservation, ecology, or related fields."
Interested applicants "must have ability to hike in strenuous conditions, have the courage to crawl into a bear den, and have the trust in your coworkers to keep you safe during the process," wrote the department.
The photos are from a research project in Northern New Mexico, according to the Facebook post. They added they "do not recommend crawling into bear dens" and "all bears were handled safely under supervision."
"Not all law enforcement field work is this glamorous, but we would love for you to join the team where you can have the experience of a lifetime," added the department.
Applications for the next class of conservation officer trainees are open until March 30, according to the post.
The job duties include a lot more than just bear-hugging, according to the job listing. Each conservation officer is responsible for "enforcing the game and fish laws" and also "educates the public about wildlife and wildlife management, conducts wildlife surveys, captures 'problem animals,' investigates wildlife damage to crops and property, assists in wildlife relocations and helps to develop new regulations."
Black bears are New Mexico's state animal. Estimates place the population at around 6,000 bears, according to a publication from the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING | Danielle Smith's UCP holds onto power in Alberta
Danielle Smith is still the premier of Alberta, surviving a vigorous campaign and a tight vote Monday against NDP challenger Rachel Notley.

Singh calls for foreign interference rapporteur Johnston to step aside
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is pushing for special rapporteur David Johnston to 'step aside' from his role examining the issue of foreign interference before he embarks on public hearings.
New Democrat MP says she is target of foreign interference by China
New Democrat MP Jenny Kwan said Monday that Canada's spy agency has confirmed her long-held belief she is being targeted by the Chinese government, as the prime minister granted the NDP's wish to allow more party members to review top-secret intelligence.
Golden Knights reach 2nd Stanley Cup Final after Game 6 win over Stars
William Karlsson, William Carrier and Jonathan Marchessault are finally getting another chance in the Stanley Cup Final, after the first one that came so quick for the Vegas Golden Knights.
Caleb Martin helps Heat to 103-84 Game 7 win over Celtics and spot in NBA Finals
Eastern Conference finals Most Valuable Player Jimmy Butler scored 28 points, and Caleb Martin had 26 points and 10 rebounds to help the eighth-seeded Miami Heat beat the Celtics 103-84 in Game 7 on Monday night and advance to the NBA Finals for the second time in four seasons.
Canadian parliamentarians condemn Uganda's recently passed anti-homosexuality law
Canadian political leaders and parliamentarians are denouncing a new law passed in Uganda that imposes harsh penalties, including the death penalty, for certain cases involving homosexuality.
Free prescription drugs could reduce overall health-care costs in Canada: study
Overall health-care costs could be reduced in Canada by providing free prescription drugs to patients, according to a new study.
Northern B.C., Alberta and all of Ontario under 'high' to 'extreme' wildfire risk: What to know
There's a heightened risk of wildfires across the country during what has been one of the earliest fire seasons on record. From British Columbia to Nova Scotia, here's where the risk is highest.
Strategic city planning can mitigate 'urban heat island' effect, make cities cooler in summer: study
New research from Penn State University found certain factors can contribute to reducing what’s known as the 'urban heat island' effect, and that climate knowledge can contribute to better city planning and design.