A hiker at Glacier National Park is lucky to be alive after encountering a charging grizzly bear. The hiker managed to capture the footage with their phone.
The park visitor, Regina Louisa, was on a trail when she noticed a pair of mountain goats in a full sprint coming her way. She then realized that a grizzly bear was chasing the goats down the trail.
In the clip, the grizzly bear runs straight in Louisa’s direction for several bounds. However, when the goats break off the trail, the bear chases them down into the field. Fortunately, the bear seems doesn’t change course and pursue Louisa.
She shared the clip on social media describing the encounter. “Yesterday (7/25) on the Hidden Lake Overlook Trail at about 6:30 p.m., a young grizzly scared those of us who were near the outlook,” she captioned the post. “He came charging fast, but was not interested in people at all. He was after multiple mountain goats!!! (Excuse the profanity, adrenaline was rushing!!) 😳🐐🐻.”
Montana’s Glacier National Park spans almost 6,000 square miles of wilderness area. The park draws millions of visitors every year. Rangers estimate nearly 300 grizzlies live in the park. On the park’s website, they warn visitors about the dangers of encountering grizzlies.
The website lays out several ways to stay safe from bears at the park. Firstly, rangers recommend traveling in groups of “three or more people.” Secondly, visitors should learn how to avoid surprise encounters.
Many hikers think remaining quiet may avoid attracting wildlife. However, making noise serves as one of the best ways to avoid surprise encounters. “Noise is your best friend when it comes to avoiding bears while out on the trail,” the website reads.
The park also mentions a couple of tips to keep in mind. “Be particularly careful near streams and waterfalls, against the wind, or in dense vegetation,” the website reads. “A blind corner or a rise in the trail also requires special attention.” Furthermore, the park warns guests that they should “avoid dead animals, as bears will feed on carcasses for days.”
[H/T Our Community]
