Video: Scared camper narrates his encounter with a mama bear and her cubs

It’s many hikers’ worst nightmare: going through up with a household of bears on a path. Whereas a single bear on the trail is sufficient to get your pulse racing, seeing a mama bear and her cubs is often a precursor to a state of affairs about to show the mistaken aspect of great. Bear assaults can happen in a matter of seconds, and with these 900 lb. hulks of muscle in a position to run at speeds of 35 mph, you’re not about to outrun one in every of them in the event that they determine you’re a risk to their infants.

This potential chain of occasions was nearly undoubtedly exactly what was going via the top of this terrified camper in Glacier Nationwide Park. However, regardless of the imposing risk of a mom grizzly and her two cubs strolling down the path towards him, he managed to maintain a cool head. As a substitute of turning to run, he pulled out his cellphone and filmed the expertise, narrating every second as he walked backward towards camp. The video — seen nearly seven million occasions — is sufficient to make your palms sweaty however offers a dramatic perception into what it could be wish to face this risk close to your campsite.

Regardless of the worry in his voice, this camper manages to remain calm, slowly backing away from the mom and her two cubs and speaking to them regularly in a agency voice carrying as a lot authority as you’ll be able to count on from somebody on this state of affairs. Whereas backing away does — as he factors out quite a few occasions — enhance the danger of a stumble and instantly turning into a straightforward goal, it additionally permits this hiker to stay going through the approaching bears. Turning your again on an advancing bear may point out to them that you just’re fleeing and are potential prey, which might flip a bear encounter into a bear attack.

Whereas many commenters counsel that this hiker ought to have dealt with this case in another way — both taking part in lifeless on the path, being loud and making himself look massive, or strolling off the trail and letting them move — there’s one piece of proof that means he dealt with himself completely: he’s nonetheless right here to inform his story. However would any of those concepts have helped?

Properly, whereas taking part in lifeless is really helpful if a grizzly assaults, this bear wasn’t displaying aggressive habits. The bears appeared simply as stunned as the person was to satisfy another person on their path. The cubs had been inquisitive — as younger kids and animals often are — which put the camper at elevated threat. Present the mom bear that you just pose no risk and are backing away slowly — neither predator nor prey — and also you would possibly continue to exist. Get massive and aggressive, and the mom would possibly determine that you just’re a risk to her cubs — and also you don’t need to be on the mistaken aspect of an indignant mama bear.

This video proves, above all else, that the important thing to survival in a bear encounter is conserving your head and following tips. However it is best to at all times have bear pepper spray in case you’re not fairly as lucky as this camper.

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