ALBERTA, CANADA, June 27 (Billings News Online) — A viral video from Alberta’s Kananaskis Country is putting a sharp travel lesson in front of hikers and dog walkers: when a bear approaches, officials say do not run.
The footage shows a woman walking with her dog as a grizzly bear follows, circles and charges her on a trail near Mount Engadine Lodge on Rummel Lake Trail in Spray Lakes Provincial Park, according to multiple reports that tied the location to Alberta, Canada. The woman appears to back away slowly while speaking to the bear, and the bear eventually moves off.
Culture Alberta and TMZ reported that no one was hurt. The clip was shared online by a friend on Instagram, though the original uploader was not identified in the material supplied for this report.
Bear-safety guidance from the U.S. National Park Service and the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee says running can trigger a predatory response from a bear and should be avoided. The agencies advise people to back away slowly when a bear is not engaged, and to respond differently depending on whether the animal is acting defensively or offensively.
The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee says bears can outrun people over short distances. The National Park Service says a bluff charge should not be met by running.
