ALBERTA, CANADA, June 27 (Billings News Online) — A viral video from Alberta’s Kananaskis Country is drawing attention to bear safety for hikers and dog walkers after a woman was filmed backing away from a charging grizzly near Mount Engadine Lodge.
Alberta Forestry and Parks said the encounter happened near Mount Engadine Lodge on Rummel Lake Trail in Spray Lakes Provincial Park. The footage circulating online shows the woman and her dog being followed and repeatedly charged as she keeps backing away and speaking to the bear.
The clip spread after it was shared on Instagram. The original uploader was not identified in the materials reviewed.
Bear-safety guidance from the U.S. National Park Service and the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee says people should not run from a bear. The agencies say backing away slowly is appropriate when the animal is not engaged, while a bluff or defensive charge calls for standing ground and using bear spray when available.
The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee says bears can run faster than humans over short distances, and the National Park Service says running from a surprised bear can trigger a predatory response.
