Corbin #bearhunt gaining national, worldwide following

With Easter coming Sunday and all of the traditional egg hunts cancelled due to COVID–19 the Corbin woman who started the teddy bear hunt is encouraging those who have bears on display to include some colorful Easter eggs.

More than 2,100 people are currently members of the #bearhunt Facebook group that was started by Crystal Fields.

In addition to residents from across the tri-county area, businesses and organizations have joined in the effort.

Dairy Queen in Corbin has three bears painted on the store window, including one that is holding a Blizzard treat.

Hamblin and Kersey, Gambrel Toyota and local attorney Graham Trimble have also put bears in their store windows.

“I’m surprised how many adults are embracing it,” Fields said.

In addition to posts where bears may be found, the group has reports from families who have gone on bear hunts detailing how many bears they were able to find.

And it is not just bears that may be found.

Unicorns, dogs, elephants, lions, rabbits, and numerous other stuff animals have been set up for people to find.

I’m encouraging people to keep them out until we are through this,” Fields said, adding that there is always room for more people who would like to participate.

The effort is drawing attention across the state and even the world.

Anna Turner shared the bears on her porch in Maysville, Kentucky.

Wendy Lee Auger share a photo of the giant pink bear perched on her mailbox in Rochester, New Hampshire.

It his holding a sign asking, “Going on a Bear Hunt?” with the hashtag #bear hunt.

James Burnby shared a photo of a bear made out of rolls and bales of hay in a field in Clinton, New Zealand.

Fields explained that the bear hunt idea is based on the preschool song, “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.” It is also sung about going on a lion hunt.

“I’ve worked in pediatrics, so I know this whole COVID–19 ordeal has got to be laying on kids, so I thought this would be a fun way that they can get out of the house and have some fun while still social distancing,” Fields said.

The #bearhunt Facebook group is a public group.