Woman Encounters Bear in Outhouse

I got into a weird conversation with a friend this past weekend about public restrooms. He explained to me how he had a phobia when it comes to using public toilets. He described how he would not travel much and didnt stray to far from home for that reason. But, outside of cleanliness, he couldn't explain WHY he was so terrified of public restrooms. This phobia actually has a name.

According to verywellmind.com

Paruresis is the fear of public toilets without any medical cause. 1 Paruresis is also known as urophobia, shy kidney, shy bladder, or bashful bladder syndrome (BBS).

For me, public restrooms are no big deal. Especially since I was raised in Montana, doing lots of outdoor activities. Those always seemed to involve using a tree as a bathroom or an outhouse. In those cases the only fear that would be involved is the fear of creepy crawlies climbing on you. But, using an outhouse, the last thing you would think about living in the hole below, would be a bear.

Just recently a woman in Alaska went camping. Why she would go camping during an Alaska winter is beyond me. But, during her visit, natured called. According to Anchorage Daily News, the woman's name is Shannon Stevens. She had an interview with a local radio station and said:

“Normally, when we are out there in the summer or the fall I’m used to shouting ‘Hey, bear!’ the whole way. It was the dead of winter, so I didn’t think to do that this time,” Stevens told KHNS. “I got in there and sat down on the toilet seat, and something just immediately bit me in the butt. I jumped up and screamed.”

Shannon yelled for her brother to come investigate. When he lifted the lid, he saw a bears snout and eyes peaking out. Turns out the bear was using the outhouse as a winter hibernation den.

That should give you something to think about next time you use an outhouse. Just look before you sit.