A police department in Missouri politely requested residents not “wrestle” bears after a black bruin was spotted passing through the city.

The Salem Police Department shared photos of the animal walking through a path in a wooded area on Tuesday morning and asked residents to not try to feed or interact with the bear if they come across it.

“Earlier this morning we received phone calls about a black bear near Rolla Road,” the department wrote in a Facebook post. “The Police Department closely monitored the situation and the bear was last seen heading North back out of town.”

The department asked residents to contact them if they spot the animal again and added an important warning.

“REMINDER.. AND YES THIS IS REAL,” Salem police wrote in all caps.

“Please do not wrestle the bear if you come in contact. Bear Wrestling is illegal in the state of Missouri per statute 578.176.

Despite the serious danger of taking on the beast, many residents found the thought of taking on a black bear — which can weigh between 90 to 500 pounds depending on its sex and the season — humorous.

“Well, there goes my evening cardio plans,” one person commented on the police department’s post. “Thanks Salem Police Department.”

Another questioned if all wrestling was illegal.

“Does this law include arm wrestling?” she wrote. “I’ve never had the opportunity to arm wrestle a bear before, and this one just waltzed into town.”

One commenter, however, accepted her fate.

“Listen I am probably gonna wrestle the bear,” she wrote. “Just have a warrant ready.”

Sparring up against a bear isn’t the only illegal offense.

Staging and promoting man vs. bear matches and collecting admission fees for such is also against the law as is training, selling or buying a bear for wrestling.

Bear wrestling and related activities are categorized as a class A misdemeanor in Missouri.

Laws against the sport popped up all over the US in the 1990s in response to animal rights groups condemning bear vs. man matches which were used as entertainment for spectators starting in the mid- to late-1800s.

The animals were often declawed and had their teeth removed before they entered the ring and generally were part of circus acts or promos for professional wrestlers.

In the wild, black bears rarely show aggression and often shy away from confrontation especially with humans, according to PBS.