Katmai National Park is home to around 2,200 grizzly bears, with even more living along the rest of the Alaskan Peninsula. As such the Alaskan national park is a massive hotspot for those hoping to witness the incredible animals in the wild, with tourists traveling there from around the world.
Brooks Camp is easily the most popular bear watching inside the park, offering public services found nowhere else in the park. Situated at the mount of the Brooks River, brown bears are so common in the area that visitors are required to attend a brief bear safety talk at the start of their stay. Rangers are very active at keeping people away from bears around the camp, ensuring both the animals and humans stay safe.
In this situation tourists were let into the Brooks Lodge Ranger Station as a massive grizzly wandered through the park. It seems likely that the visitors were given access to the station just to let the bear pass in peace.
Bear safety is incredibly important knowledge inside Katmai National Park. The animals need to be given space. Approaching within 50 yards (150 feet) or remaining within 50 yards is prohibited, and tourists should always avoid interfering with a bear’s activities or movements. Visitors should always carry bear spray in an accessible location and understand how to use it. The people in this video were likely completely safe and within the presence of a ranger given that they were inside a ranger station.
Katmai National Park Bear Encounter Guidelines:
Assess the Bear’s Behavior
Bear encounters often happen very quickly, but the bear will likely be showing cues that communicate its intentions. When you encounter a bear always stop, remain calm, and assess the situation.
Look and Listen for Signs of Stress: Vocalizations like woofing, huffing, and jaw popping are almost always indications of stress. If you hear a bear vocalizing then the bear is most likely warning you. The position of a bear’s ears also communicates information. Ears that are pointed forward usually indicate a sense of curiosity or dominance. Ears that are flattened back on a bear’s head is indicative of stress and/or defensiveness.
Be Careful Not to Startle It: Shouting at a brown bear that is not aware of you may incite a charge. If the bear does not know you are there, back away quietly watching for any changes in its behavior.
A bear may approach closely or stand on its hind legs to identify you. Identify yourself as a human by talking to the bear calmly and waving your arms slowly above your head. Back away slowly if you can. If you are traveling in a group, use the group’s size to your advantage and stay close to one another. Don’t Run! Running may encourage a bear to chase you. Bears can run faster than 30 miles per hour (50 km/hr). You cannot outrun them.
If You are Charged
A defensive bear may approach you or even charge. If a bear charges, it perceives you as threat. Most charges are bluffs, but you must take action to try to appear non-threatening by standing your ground and talking calmly to the bear. Don’t shout or throw anything. Once the bear has stopped its charge, try to move slowly away. If the bear charges again as you are moving away, stop moving and stand your ground again.
Use your bear spray if you think the bear will attack. Even though most charges are bluffs, there is no cue from the bear indicating that the charge is a bluff.
If a Defensive Bear Attacks
Play dead. Fall to the ground face down on your stomach with your legs apart. Lock your hands behind your neck to protect your neck and face. If you do get rolled over, keep rolling until you’re face down again. Don’t shout or cry out. Stay quietly in this position until the bear has left the area. Once a defensive bear no longer perceives you as a threat, it will stop attacking. If the attack continues long after you have assumed the protective position, fight back vigorously.
If a Non-Defensive Bear Approaches
A non-defensive bear may approach you for are a variety of reasons — it may be conditioned to human food, curious, or want to test its dominance. Non-defensive bears usually don’t show any signs of stress, so you should act assertively. You are trying to dissuade the bear from approaching. As with a defensive bear, stay calm and speak to the bear. Try moving out of its way. If the bear continues to approach, you then want to assert your dominance over the animal — shout, make yourself look large and threatening, throw a rock towards the bear, and prepare to use your bear spray.
If a Non-Defensive Bear Attacks
In North America, brown bear attacks are very rare and non-defensive attacks by brown bears are even more rare. Brown bear attacks are almost always defensive, but if it is not then fight back. Non-defensive bears may consider you prey.