Hikers' Perfect Response to Grizzly Family Encounter in Glacier National Park Could Save Lives
Every national park has its own wonders to explore, from glaciers and geysers to rolling desert dunes. Many national parks are even dog-friendly, but solo hikers and pet parents alike need to be vigilant for hazards such as cliffs and wild animals.
On July 29 in Glacier National Park, Montana, a group of unsuspecting hikers crossed paths with a large female grizzly bear. As if they weren't nervous enough already, she had cubs with her, too! One of the hikers, @ joetheduffy, recorded the nerve-wracking encounter 'in case of death,' though I'm happy to report everyone lived to tell this terrifying tale.
OMG, what a close call! I could hear the panic rising in Joe's voice as he processed the situation, though I have no idea how he stayed so calm. Something tells me this wasn't his first National Park bear encounter!
A commenter summed up Joe's unspoken thought process perfectly when they wrote, "Bear? Ok. Grizzly bear? Ok that's scary. Grizzly bear with cubs? I might die today."
Joe himself also delivered one of the greatest one-liners of all-time, despite being mid-panic and walking backwards: "this would be wonderful, if it weren't horrible." Anyone who's accidentaly come face-to-face with a bear will be able to relate!
Being that close to a bear would leave anyone quaking in their hiking boots, but seeing bear cubs in a situation like this isn't a good thing. They're cute, that's true, but mama bears are known to be overly protective. Luckily, this experienced outdoorsman and his group knew exactly what to do to avoid an escalating situation.
Bear Encounters 101
Fortunately, violent encounters between humans and animals are rare, but there's still a lot to learn before hiking in bear country. Take a note from Joe's book, for example, by announcing your presence if you even suspect you're in the presence of a bear.
In fact, it's become a bit of a running joke on social media that simply saying 'hey bear' will do the trick! And if you think about it, this is basically another example supporting that theory.
"You're doing exactly the correct thing," another viewer commented. "You are announcing your presence while backing away at a calm pace. She knows you're there, she knows you're not a threat. She is minding her business, you're minding yours. Everything is great."
Great may not be everyone's first thought after watching this video, but there's no question that this was pretty much best-case-scaenario. Fortunatley, most bear encounters are!
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first appeared on PetHelpful on Aug 5, 2025
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