See A Grizzly Force A Man Up A Tree, Then Start Climbing After Him

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Key Points

• Just like many people, this man thought he would be safest up off the ground.
• These solitary animals will go to any lengths to protect their young, food, and territory, even if it means quickly ascending and descending a tree. 
• While it’s hard to tell why this animal is chasing the man up a tree, we do wonder what caused the interaction.

One of the most terrifying things you can imagine is getting chased by a giant grizzly bear! They are renowned for their enormous size, weighing up to 800 pounds, and their propensity for aggression. Some males have even tipped the scale at 1,500 pounds! 

It’s a common, and deadly, myth that if you’re being chased by one of these apex predators, you’re supposed to climb a tree. Doing this can be a death sentence. One of the grizzly bear’s greatest skills is climbing.

Although these magnificent creatures are incredible, extremely adaptable creatures, their size, temperament, and strength can be intimidating to people, particularly if you come into contact with one. 

Even while these encounters are uncommon, one man immediately discovers that they are not impossible. Just like many people, he thought he would be safest up off the ground. As the bear stood on its hind legs, he quickly knew he was wrong. 

On their hind legs, grizzly bears can reach nearly 10 feet tall. The bear begins clawing on the man’s ankles as he’s hanging on to the tree for dear life! Grizzlies are fiercely possessive animals. These solitary animals will go to any lengths to protect their young, food, and territory, even if it means quickly ascending and descending a tree. 

To protect their offspring from harm is the most frequent reason for them to ascend a tree.

Staying Safe

While it’s hard to tell why this animal is chasing the man up a tree, we do wonder what caused the interaction. Although they can not climb as quickly as black bears, grizzly bears are much more protective than black bears, and a bear will always outrun you. It is never a smart idea to disobey them because they will likely catch you in no time, whether you are sprinting or climbing a tree. 

Different bear species respond differently, and not all of their actions are foreseeable. One of the finest pieces of advice is to saunter rather than run if you ever come across a grizzly bear since they view eye contact as a threat.

These majestic animals would be at an advantage in a fight with a person since their forelegs and paws are strong enough to lift a big rock and their claws are sharp enough already to hook a fish or slice open their victim. 

Grizzly bears are powerful enough to damage homes or hurt smaller household pets only to get to the food, particularly those who have previously come into touch with human food. If you ever encounter one of these beasts, back away slowly and avoid eye contact. 

Is it Normal for Grizzly Bears to Chase Humans?

Fortunately, the bears don’t consider humans to be prey. Visitors to national parks known for bears, such as Yellowstone, are more likely to be killed by a lightning strike than a bear attack. The odds of attacks are approximately 1 in 2.7 million. However, grizzly bears may act aggressively for a few reasons. They are most likely acting defensively, protecting either their food sources, their cubs, or their personal space. They are curious, intelligent, and reclusive and tend to alter their habits to avoid humans. Much like any animal, they have what is called a “critical space”, an area surrounding them that they will defend. These bears are more likely to be indifferent to human presence, although every bear encounter will be different.

Bears also have a predatory instinct to chase animals that are running. They will not only chase you, should you run, but as shown in the video, they are excellent climbers as well so it is not advisable to view tree climbing as a safe exit. It is important to remain calm during any encounter with a wild animal and if you are traveling in an area with bears, you should prepare yourself on how to proceed.

Where Do Grizzlies Live?

Grizzly bears once ranged from Alaska to Mexico and from the Pacific Ocean to the Mississippi River. The western expansion has caused their range to narrow to include the states of Alaska, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, southern Colorado, and western Canada. Alaska has the most grizzly bears with an estimated 31,000 of the 55,000 believed to be in North America.

These adaptable bears can be found in a variety of environments including high mountain forests, subalpine meadows, arctic tundras, wetlands, grasslands, mixed-conifer forests, and coastal regions.

Grizzlies lost 98% of their original range between 1850 and 1970, with populations declining from an estimated high of 50,000 to 1,700 – leading to a listing as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1975. The numbers of grizzlies have increased after they received protective status.

How Large are Adult Grizzly Bears?

Grizzly bears are generally twice as large as black bears and adults typically stand at 3.5 feet at the shoulder or almost 9 feet when standing on their hind legs. Males can weigh between 200-700 pounds, while females range between 200-400.