‘I Couldn’t Breathe’: Tourists Film Dangerously Close Encounter With Charging Bear
- Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:06pm by
Liz Klimas
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A clan of 10 tourists had a quick briefing on what to do if they encountered a bear before heading out to sight-see in Alaska’s Katmai National Park. What should you do? Stay still. Don’t run.
Could you sit still if this was running toward you? (Photo via Daily Mail)
This training came in handy when they not only encountered a bear, but were charged by one on what the Telegraph describes as a “safe viewing” tour. Watch this footage taken by one of the tourists, which has gone viral on the Web recently although we at the Blaze are questioning its timing due to the foliage and bears’ hibernation patterns:
The Daily Mail reports that the group was told they would be watching the bears fishing “from a safe distance” when one suddenly turned toward them. It came so close as to sniff a member of the group and circle them before becoming disinterested.
The Daily Mail has more from some of the spectators:
Larry Griffith, 59, and wife Cindy, 57, were part of the group.
Mr Griffith, from New Mexico, U.S., said: ‘There were eight others with us and we were allowed four hours in two different locations to view the bears.
[...]
“Our guide said he saw this as a bluff charge, trying to scare us, which he did!
“We were all in shock but were happy that no-one in our group jumped up, ran away or screamed for their lives.
“The bear actually smelled the hoodie of one of us, then walked behind us all within three feet.
“We were all frozen and I couldn’t breathe. In the end the bear lost interest or got the message and left us alone.
“It was terrifying walking back through the grass to our boat-plane. I counted 30-40 different bears.”
(Photo via Daily Mail)
The National Wildlife Federation states bears such as grizzlies can run as fast as 40 miles per hour and can weigh upwards of 700 pounds. A bear’s “bluff” charge is often used to give potential threats the chance to back down before an attack.
It is unclear from reports when exactly this incident happened or when the video footage was first released, but it is getting a lot of coverage on the Web now. You might find it unusual that all the trees and shrubs are green in the images and video. The National Park’s website also states that peak bear viewing time is in July — not February. We are skeptical about considering this video new for that reason and because the park’s website also states the bears generally are in hibernation from November through April.
What are your thoughts?
This story has been updated for clarity.
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Comments (96)
sillyfreshness
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 5:13pmThose tourists are certified iNsAnE!!
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 5:31pmI know, and that’s all good training, but they ought not encounter a bear after saying “Go up thou bald man.”
Report Post »Wolf
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 6:35pmNothing wrong with bears. They come into my yard all the time, even sit on the deck and watch thru the patio door while we eat dinner. One man has a family of bears come into his yard daily, drink root beer from the bottle while he holds it. They come into our BWCA camps all the timem sniffing for food- which is why we hang it in trees. Besides, Christians have dominion over bears.
Report Post »WeekendAtBernankes
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 7:36pmNot to be BA but I usually just punch the bear in the face.
Report Post »silentwatcher
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 12:44amIf you are with other people when charged by a bear,,,by all means RUN…..just make sure you are faster than some of the others.
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 7:59amWhile archery hunting I’ve had similar incidents in the lower 48, several times. Scary stuff. Black bears only, though.
Report Post »cuinsong
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 12:58pmThis is either a fake or these people have a death wish. either way I think this song applies! After all a woman scorned could qualify as a charging bear. Right? “What Did I do to Make You Feel This Way” http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_11314261
Report Post »IMAWAKENOW
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 5:21pm@wolf
There is a very large difference between a black bear “yours” and a brown, the one in the video. Kind of like the difference between a poodle and a pitbull.
Report Post »sixtysix
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 11:04amWhen we lived in Alaska, we were not instructed that a guide could determine that a bear was bluffing. But, what chould he say when the bear was charging? No use yelling “RUN.” The bear could catch them. They did the correct thing. It is just insane to get that close to bears with a guide with no sense.
Report Post »Country Publius
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 11:59ami grew up around Black bears, and as kids we‘d frequently load our pockets with rocks and chase them away from the residence area to keep them from tipping over garbage cans and making big messes that we’d then have to clean up.
On the other hand, Grizzly aren’t nearly as timid as Black bears, and i wouldn’t feel a bit comfortable about intruding on their fishing territory.
Report Post »GIRTHMAN
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 5:00pmat least I know I will never ever get attacked by a bear…wanna know how I know that ?? DUH
Report Post »RinkyDink34
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:44pmNice Bear!
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:36pmFools! Enough said!
Report Post »one.dakine.howlie
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 5:06pmThese people deserve to be ripped apart by these bears. Idiots…
Report Post »lynskinners
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:23pmTwo words: Timothy Treadwell
Report Post »http://www.yellowstone-bearman.com/Tim_Treadwell.html
lynskinners
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:38pmFYI: Katmai National Park is where Treadwell and his girlfriend were killed and eaten. And yes they were both partially eaten. That’s what predators do – they kill and eat!
Report Post »deano24
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 7:18pmKatmai National Park doesn’t allow guns inside & they didn’t have bear spray with them for protection. The sad part it was going to be Amie Huguenard last season with him after she decided to go back to California.It also doesn’t say why Timothy Treadwell quit carrying bear spray.
Report Post »Nathaniel Horn
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 7:44pmYeah, but he pushed his luck and got away with it for years then the law of averages caught up with him and his girlfriend. These people have gotten their warning. If I were them, I wouldn’t do it twice…
Report Post »texchris
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:07pmIn Grizzly Country they teach you to walk with Bells on and carry Pepper spray.They also teach you what Bear scat looks like. Bear scat looks like a pile of Bells and smell like Pepper.
Report Post »s0ck_monkey
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 5:52pmLOL!! That was classic!!
Report Post »DrSique
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 11:23amYup and, if you nudge it with your toe, it makes a funny little jingley sound. I thought that I was a tough guy for feeding the raccoons who live behind my house. About the same thing, if I was eight inches tall.
Report Post »Miyegombo Bayartsogt
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:05pmIf you try and flee a charging grizzly, the hungry bear’s gonna run you down and eat you. Stand still and the bear won’t be out of breath as it eats. There’s a great related story of a guy who went to live with and film wild bears in Alaska every summer for years. One year he brought a girlfriend along and a bear came in the night to their tent and ate them both. It seems the berry crop was bad that year and the bear was feeling extra peckish.
Report Post »AnAmerican111
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:57pmCom’on people!
Report Post »Have some guts!
Charge right back at the bear!
Busybea007
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:12pmI suggest giving them the woods – I would not trust that they would do nothing if you did not run. To
Report Post »many stories that say otherwise. They are not “predictable”… Better safe than sorry.
jakartaman
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 6:12pmI carry a 44 mag just for situations like this
Report Post »But then again I am not a stupid tourist!
Emanuel Goldstein
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:56pmWow, certainly would wake you up, but they did the right thing. You do not run from an animal that is faster than you unless you want to be eaten. Stand your ground and they will figure out you are not prey.
Report Post »Unless they are really hungry, at that point you are dead either way. ;)
thejackal
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:53pmThese people are obviously all liberal, tree hugging, moonbats…. No normal minded person would ever go into Grizz country without AT LEAST a .357 Mag. I’d prefer a high powered rifle 7mm Mag or larger.
Report Post »Walther40
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:12pmThe word of the day kids, is,
- moonbat : noun: An unthinking or insane leftist — in other words, most modern leftists.
Moonbat can also be used as an adjective, e.g. a moonbat professor.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=moonbat
New one to me. I love it!
Report Post »Wigidy
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:17pmYou obviously haven’t been to a national park recently. It’s the liberal, tree hugging, moonbat government that forbids all firearms within the parks.
Report Post »21 Years and Counting
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 6:42pmUp here in Alaska you can carry a gun into the Parks. In fact it is recommended if you head into bear country you carry at least a .45. Best thing is a 12ga shotgun with slugs, about the only thing that will stop a charging grizzly unless you are very lucky with something smaller.
Report Post »Biddle
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:51pmholy crap.
Report Post »shogun459
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:49pmFood runs.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:47pmThe bear quit charging and left because the place probably smelled like a sewer. All of these tourists standing still and messing in their pants gave the area a stench the bear could not stand.
Report Post »WhiteFang
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:46pmPlaying with bears is like swimming with sharks….not a good idea.
Report Post »landman1
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:01pmThose stupid tourists should make sure to carry hard plastic id cards so when searchers are trying to find missing people and are kicking through fresh bear scat they might find out which tourist was lucky and which one was supper. It is inevitable.
Report Post »deeberj
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:45pmWhat are my thoughts?
I think it’s stupid of tourists to want to get close to bears to view them. I think far away viewing with binoculars is plenty close enough.
Report Post »4xeverything
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:14pmI personally prefer my bear watching from the comfort of my couch.
Report Post »seanscythe
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:19pmIsn’t this what a Zoo is for?
Report Post »PJL
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:40pmDopes!
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:38pmDon’t get between an angry Moochelle and her dinner of some fresh, healthy FDA approved fish…
Report Post »NeoKong
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:29pmPersonally I try to never go anywhere that I am not at the top of the food chain.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:44pmI agree…Only problem is, I don‘t work for the government so I’m stuck.
Report Post »WAR PIGS CRAWLING
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:45pmI agree. With the proper armaments, I’m almost always (I don’t live anywhere close to an ocean) on the top of the food chain too.
Bear tenderloin tastes excellent.
Report Post »huey6367
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:25pmDid ya offer him a marshmellow? Did ya pet him? Did ya? Did ya? Did ya? Huh?
No? So why were you standing there filming him? That sure would have made a funny video if he attacked you.
KIDS: Wanna see a video of mom and dad’s vacation? We haven’t seen it yet.
Jack Hanna narrarates: This is the North American Grizzly Bear one of the most ferocious bears in the world. And these are the Griffiths. Not ferocious and just down right stupid.
KIDS: Why are they sitting there? RUN MOM!! RUN DAD!!
Jack Hanna: These grizzlies are usually quite solitary animals and don’t care for other animals in their territory.
KIDS: Oh my God!! Why are they sitting there?
Jack Hanna: Usually a grizzly gives a ferocious roar to scare others when they are going to attack. Usually.
KIDS: Why did dad drop the camera? And what are they screaming about?
More on this story at 11.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:24pmNot so sure what a “safe distance” would be .. but don’t think it was this!
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:35pmIf you can see it, and they can see you, and you or they are not in a protective cage…I‘m willing to bet it’s not safe. :)
Report Post »LogicalMetaphysician
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:20pmJellystone Park isn’t as safe as it was in my youth…
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:18pmI hate not being able to breath. It’s almost as bad as having bad breathe.
Report Post »B_rad
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:37pmGlad somebody said it. We all mistype or misspell a word once in a while, but I think if you’re writing headlines, you should get it right. Just sayin’.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:17pm.
Report Post »I bet more than one pair of Depends was soiled…………
Kaoscontrol
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:17pmThat’s not a grizzly bear! It’s clearly a WOOLY MAMMOTH!
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:09pmjeesh. anyone messing with an innocent bear deserves whatever happens to them in that innocent bear’s territory, stupid ”safe viewing tour” or not. and SO no sympathy for anyone on these extravagant ‘tours’ either.
Report Post »godhatesacoward
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 6:30pmYep, sure are lucky one or more did’nt end up looking like Halfy!
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