Imagine you’ve just reached the top of a mountain on a steep rock-climbing hike, you’re feeling exhausted and accomplished, and you’re carefully descending through sharp rocks to make your way back. You hear something, look up, and see a huge black bear coming for you. Do you hold on for dear life or release a fist to fight back? Click below to see what this incredibly brave man did in this horrifying moment.
Click Below to Witness the Terrifying Bear Attack!
Do Black Bears Attack Humans?
No matter what kind of bear you might encounter in nature, adrenaline is bound to pump through your veins. In Japan, there have been several reported deaths as a result of Asian black bear attacks. Between 1979 and 1989, a total of nine people were killed. Asian black bears have distinct personalities and are known for having quick tempers. Attacks on humans are not uncommon.
How To Defend Yourself Against A Black Bear
If you ever encounter an Asian black bear, the idea is to stay quiet, avoid turning your back, and keep your eyes steady on it. That’s a tall order, considering some of the involuntary sounds that escape when you’re completely horrified (plus the instinct to run!). Mother bears are extremely protective of their cubs, and if one gets aggressive, you may need to use bear repellant spray. This is only effective if it gets close enough, which is not ideal. You’ll also notice a lot of hikers in Japan walk around with bear-repellent bells. Though popular, experts say these are not effective.
Black bear atop a rock, as if lying in wait for the rock climber.
©smartneddy / Creative Commons – License
Rock Climber Vs. Black Bear
This video was taken at Mt. Futago in Chichibu City in Japan. A man is descending from some sharp rocks, carefully finding his footing and holding on as he tries to find a more secure place to continue his descent. He’s breathing steadily and keeping his focus, despite the severe drop just below him leading into an array of trees. As he keeps descending, he hears a scuffle just above him and turns his attention to the top of the rocks from where he just came.
The sound of horror that comes from the man is disturbing. The sun shines bright behind it, but you can see the outline of a massive bear as it lunges directly toward the man. If you pause the video, you can see just how close this huge bear gets, its mouth agape. The man’s instinct to scream is followed up by his instinct to push against the bear, sending it falling down to a ledge below.
Pissed off, the bear immediately bounces back and climbs back up for another attack. The man continues the guttural screaming. His will to live is strong and he punches the bear with his bare hand several times before finally kicking it away. The bear almost comes back a third time but chooses instead to run away with its cub.
The photo featured at the top of this post is © APIWICH PUDSUMRAN/Shutterstock.com
How to Add Us to Google News
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.
