"Hello, Bear" - Your Heart Will Skip a Beat Watching This Intense Bear Encounter

Filmed at the stunning Katmai National Park in Alaska, this is a masterclass on how to behave around bears. The narrator explains that the people in the clip had received training on how to behave around bears, and it came in very useful! Scroll down to watch the full video of what happened when these explorers met a bear on a trail.

Watch the Impressive Video Below:

@chasing.luminance
So this was an interesting encounter. You might wonder why we didn’t just walk backwards down the trail? Why did we go into the thick forest? Every other time we saw a bear on the people trail they were just using it as a highway , cruising back and forth. So we were trained to get off the trail and give them the right away while making sure the bear knows we’re there so we don’t startle them. This bear had other ideas… we’re very grateful to the bear school training that helped us keep calm and move out of his way. #bears #brownbears #brownbear #katmai #katmainationalpark #animalencounter #absoluteunit #wildlife #wildanimals #Alaska
♬ original sound – Alex McGregor

How to Avoid Confrontations With Bears

The most important piece of advice from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is to avoid bears if you can. Do not approach bears – they have a personal space, and if you invade it, you will make them feel uncomfortable and defensive. This is particularly important if you encounter a female bear with her cubs. She is more likely to perceive your presence as a threat and will want to protect her young family. Avoiding areas where bears are likely to congregate is also sensible. These will be places where they can smell food, including the area around the carcasses of other animals.

Roaring Grizzly Bear behind bush — Bears like their personal space, so don’t invade it!
©Scott E Read/Shutterstock.com

The worst thing you can do is surprise a bear! They do not like to be shocked and may respond aggressively. So, make a lot of noise as you are walking along – make sure that they can hear you coming. Hike in a group if you can and avoid thick brush so that you are easily seen. Finally, try to walk with the wind at your back. Bears have very sensitive noses and will smell you before they can see you!

How to Deal With a Close Bear Encounter

Bear cub on log with flowers — Life can be dangerous for bear cubs. That is why their mamas are so protective.
©Geoffrey Kuchera/Shutterstock.com

Give the bear a chance to avoid you. The bear in this clip liked to use the trails to move around. Therefore, the humans moved into the bushes to let it pass. The problem was, it didn’t pass and followed them instead!

Face the bear, stand your ground, and talk to it calmly and confidently. Make it clear that you are humans and, therefore, not the natural prey of a bear. If it continues to approach, become more assertive. Make yourself look bigger by raising your arms or throwing rocks or sticks. As a final resort, use bear spray to make your unwelcome companion back off!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Jacqui Martin/Shutterstock.com

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About the Author

Sharon Parry

Dr Sharon Parry is a writer at A-Z animals where her primary focus is on dogs, animal behavior, and research. Sharon holds a PhD from Leeds University, UK which she earned in 1998 and has been working as a science writer for the last 15 years. A resident of Wales, UK, Sharon loves taking care of her spaniel named Dexter and hiking around coastlines and mountains.

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“Hello, Bear” – Your Heart Will Skip a Beat Watching This Intense Bear Encounter