ALBERTA, CANADA, June 27 (Billings News Online) — A viral video of a woman backing away from a charging grizzly bear while walking her dog on a trail in Alberta is drawing new attention to bear-country safety for travelers and hikers.
The footage shows the woman repeatedly telling the bear to go away as it circles and charges. No one was hurt, and the woman did not run, a response that wildlife guidance says can matter during an encounter.
Alberta Forestry and Parks identified the area as near Mount Engadine Lodge on Rummel Lake Trail in Spray Lakes Provincial Park, Kananaskis Country. The National Park Service says people should not run from a surprised bear or during a bluff charge, and the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee advises backing away slowly when the bear is not engaged and using bear spray when appropriate.
The committee also says bears can run faster than people for short distances, making calm movement and distance more important than panic. The video has spread widely online as a reminder to keep pets leashed and carry bear spray when hiking in grizzly country.
