ALBERTA, CANADA, June 27 (Billings News Online) — A viral video from Alberta, Canada, is drawing fresh attention to bear safety after a woman walking her dog near Mount Engadine Lodge backed away slowly as a grizzly bear repeatedly charged her on a trail.
Alberta Forestry and Parks identified the encounter as happening on Rummel Lake Trail in Spray Lakes Provincial Park, in Kananaskis Country. The woman does not run in the video, and the bear eventually moves off.
The footage, which was shared on Instagram by a friend, shows the woman and dog as the bear circles and charges. No one was hurt, according to the accounts that circulated with the clip.
For travelers and hikers, official bear guidance says not to run from a bear. The U.S. National Park Service says running from a surprised bear can trigger a predatory response, and the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee says bear behavior should guide the response, whether that means backing away slowly, standing ground during a bluff charge, or using bear spray when appropriate.
The committee also says bears can run faster than humans over short distances, underscoring the need for distance and caution in bear country.
