What Happens When You Meet a Mama Bear and Her Cubs While Hiking?

Picture this: You’re walking through a picturesque forest, listening to the birds, and enjoying a sunny day away from it all. Then, as you come around a bend, you suddenly find yourself face-to-face with a massive mother grizzly bear and her two cubs! What do you do? This terrifying scenario became a stark reality for one hiker who captured his experience on video.

Understanding a Mama Bear

There’s a reason we often use the term “Mama Bear” to describe a fiercely protective mother. It comes from the behavior of real-life mother bears, who will do just about anything to protect their cubs, even against animals much larger than themselves.

Most bears are large, but grizzly bears are especially big, weighing up to 800 to 1,000 pounds. They are the top predators in their ecosystems and hunt everything from small rodents to large moose. Despite their massive size, they can run up to 30 mph. They also have long, sharp claws and a powerful bite force of around 1,000 pounds per square inch.

Grizzly bears usually avoid humans, but they can easily be startled if you approach them unexpectedly. A startled grizzly — particularly a mother and her cubs — can be especially dangerous. Mothers are extremely protective and will attack anything they perceive as a threat to their cubs.

Staying Safe Around Mother Bears and Their Cubs

If you encounter a mother bear or her cubs, it’s vital to keep your distance. Even if you only see a small, unassuming cub, its mother is likely nearby. Mother grizzlies are fiercely protective and will charge and attack anything and everything that might hurt their cubs.

In this YouTube video, a hiker recorded his extraordinary encounter with a mother grizzly bear and her two cubs in Alaska‘s Katmai National Park. Although trapped on a trail without a clear escape route, the man stayed calm and did exactly what he should have done: he backed away slowly and carefully, speaking calmly to the bears and never turning his back on them. He also made sure to keep his distance and appear as non-threatening as possible. The mother bear, in turn, didn’t perceive him as a threat, focusing instead on her curious cubs as they continued on their way.

Here are some important things to remember if you encounter a mother bear and/or her cubs:

• Remain calm: Avoid panic, loud noises, or screaming. Move slowly and carefully.
• Maintain distance: Back away slowly, and never turn your back on the bear. Do not run; bears are much faster than humans.
• Try to appear non-threatening: If you see a mother bear and cubs, move calmly and avoid any sudden movements. You want the mother to see that you are not a danger to her cubs.
• Avoid bear cubs: Never place yourself between a mother bear and her cubs.
• Provide an escape route: Ensure that the bear has a clear path to escape. This will prevent her from feeling cornered or trapped.
• Speak calmly: Use a soft or normal tone and talk to the bear. This will help avoid startling her and help her recognize you as a human.
• Hike in groups: Multiple people are easier to see and smell than a single hiker, and bears are much more likely to avoid groups.