See a Big Black Bear Interrupt a Group of Hikers in the Smoky Mountains

There’s not one, but two black bears in this wonderful clip that you can check out here. In it, we join a group of hikers walking through some woods in the Smoky Mountains. As we join the action, one bear is strolling around amongst the hikers. It doesn’t seem too bothered about the human company. Some of the people, on the other hand, are a little freaked out by the company of a bear. Soon they have a bear both in front of them and behind them! This is not what you want to happen on a relaxing hike. Scroll down to see how the adventure turns out in the end in this clip.

Where Do Black Bears Normally Live?

The bears in this clip are American black bears. This is the sort of habitat that they normally live in. Namely, forests across Canada and the Pacific Northwest, the upper Midwest, and parts of the southern U.S. They are also found in Alaska and the Rocky Mountains.

It’s not unusual to find black bears on human-made trails such as this hiking trail. This is because these corridors are the easiest way to move around the forests. There’s also the chance that humans may have left some tasty snacks behind and they will always be of great interest to bears!

How to Behave During a Bear Encounter

Most bears will avoid a human if they hear or see one coming. However, in the clip that we see here, the bears were making little effort to get away from the humans. Under the circumstances, you must identify yourself as a human so that the bear will know that you are not potential prey. The official advice is to stay still but slowly wave your arms. It is also important that you stay calm and continue to talk to the bear in low tones. Screams and sudden movements are likely to panic the bear and may even trigger an attack. It’s a good idea to pick up small children immediately and to make yourself look as large as possible.

If the bear is staying still, move slowly and sideways away from them – keeping an eye on them as you move. Bears view sideways movements as non-threatening.

There is no point in climbing a tree because black bears can climb better than you can. There is also no point in running away because bears can run faster than you can!

Watch the Amazing Clip Below