Cyclist Appears to Be Chased by a Grizzly. There’s One Big Catch

Quick Take

• The viral grizzly chase fooled millions, but a few odd details in the footage give away exactly what's wrong with it. See the telltale details →
• Running from a bear feels like the obvious move, but wildlife experts say it's one of the worst things you can do. Get expert encounter advice →
• If a grizzly actually makes contact, the right response depends entirely on one key distinction most people don't know to make. Learn the key distinction →
• The cyclist's hiding spot after ditching the bike looks desperate on camera, and knowing the bear was fake only makes the choice seem stranger. Watch the hiding spot →

There are few things that could make a peaceful bike ride go sideways faster than looking over your shoulder and seeing a massive bear charging down the trail behind you.

That is exactly what appears to happen in this viral GoPro clip. The cyclist pedals faster, the bear keeps coming, and eventually the rider abandons the bike and hides behind a tree as gunshots ring out in the distance. There is just one problem: the terrifying chase is not what it appears to be.

Watch the Viral Bear Chase

The footage was uploaded in 2014 and has since been watched tens of millions of times. On a quick viewing, it is easy to understand why. The first-person perspective makes the chase feel immediate, especially every time the cyclist turns around and the bear appears to be gaining ground.

The ending only adds to the drama. With the trail blocked, the cyclist leaves the bike, runs into the woods, and ducks behind a tree. Distant gunshots are then heard before the supposed grizzly disappears.

The Bear Chase Was Not Real

As convincing as the video can look at first glance, the bear was digitally added to the footage. The clip was questioned almost immediately after it went viral, and later examinations of the video identified it as a manufactured bear encounter rather than footage of an actual cyclist escaping a grizzly.

That makes some of the stranger moments easier to explain, including the cyclist’s decision to leave the bike and hide behind a nearby tree while an animal with an extraordinary sense of smell supposedly searches for him. It makes for an effective piece of viral filmmaking, but it should not be treated as an example of how a real bear encounter unfolded.

A Real Grizzly Encounter Is Still No Joke

The video may be fake, but the animal at the center of it certainly is not. Grizzlies are North American brown bears and are powerful wild animals that deserve plenty of space. Most bears want to avoid conflict with people, but a surprised, defensive, or food-conditioned bear can still create a dangerous situation.

One thing you should not copy from this video is the instinct to simply run away. The National Park Service advises people not to run from a bear because fleeing can trigger a chase response. If a bear is aware of you, speak calmly, avoid sudden movements, and slowly create distance when it is safe to do so.

What If a Grizzly Actually Attacks?

Bear encounters are not all the same, so the animal’s behavior matters. If a defensive grizzly or brown bear makes physical contact, the National Park Service generally advises leaving your backpack on and playing dead. Lie on your stomach, protect the back of your neck with your hands, spread your legs, and remain still until the bear leaves.

There is an important exception. If the attack continues for an extended period, or if a bear has been stalking you and appears to be treating you as prey, the advice changes: fight back vigorously. Bear spray can also be an important defensive tool in bear country, provided it is legal where you are traveling and you know how to use it.

So the cyclist in this famous video never had to outrun a grizzly after all. Considering how differently a real encounter can end, that is probably the best part of the story.