Scared Grizzly Runs Straight at Man in Alaskan National Park

Written by Angie Menjivar
Updated: October 18, 2023
Share on:

Katmai Country is a protected area in Alaska that was established in 1918. Across these breathtaking spaces, over 9,000 years of human history remain protected along thousands of brown bears and salmon habitats.

Throughout the national park, you can find several different mammals, including brown bears, gray wolves, and even humpback whales. The Katmai National Park service is clear about bear encounters. If you visit this area, you will likely encounter a bear.

Check Out The Entire Video Below!

They offer a full bear encounters guide to help you navigate these encounters with tips like “hike and travel in groups” and “do not approach bears.” If a bear attacks, they recommend you “fall to the ground face down on your stomach with your legs apart.”

Spooked Grizzly Nearly Tramples Man

This video starts with a shot of a man hiking through tall grass, approaching a small trail. In the background, there are several tall trees, and just behind those, you can make out some bears off in the distance, standing on that same trail.

The man looks over at them and keeps his pace steady as he makes his way out of the brush. Just as he’s passing by on the screen, you can see that the two grizzlies in the back have gotten spooked by something. They both jump backward and turn to run.

One of the bears runs up a grassy hill while the other follows the trail—straight for the man who has just made it onto the trail himself. “Hey! Hey! Back up,” he yells as he takes several steps backward back into the tall grass.

The bear acknowledges him with a look but keeps on running, making its way off the trail and into the tall grass in the opposite direction of the man. After this encounter, the man can be seen getting back onto the trail to finish his hike.

He stops for a moment and looks back to make sure the grizzly isn’t stalking him before continuing on his way. The cameraman says “Whoa, bro” to him as they both breathe a sigh of relief.

“You got bear spray?” he asks, as he pans the camera over to the bear that is now a bit further away and standing on its hind legs.

“That was a crazy charge, man,” he says, obviously still processing the encounter.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Scott E Read/Shutterstock.com


Share on:
About the Author

Angie Menjivar is a writer at A-Z-Animals primarily covering pets, wildlife, and the human spirit. She has 14 years of experience, holds a Bachelor's degree in psychology, and continues her studies into human behavior, working as a copywriter in the mental health space. She resides in North Carolina, where she's fallen in love with thunderstorms and uses them as an excuse to get extra cuddles from her three cats.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.