Shout out to this park ranger who managed to stay remarkably calm during a seriously intense encounter with an agitated grizzly bear in Glacier National Park. Despite the number of people in the area, the ranger kept her demeanor and prevented what could have turned into a very dangerous situation along the Iceberg Lake hike.
Glacier National Park
Often called the “Crown of the Continent”, Glacier National Park features over 700 miles of trails taking hikers and adventurers to view a stunning showcase of melting glaciers, alpine meadows, carved valleys, and spectacular lakes. Established on May 11, 1910, Glacier National Park today covers 1,012,837 acres. A total of 762 lakes fill the park and only 131 of them are named. Of the 26 glaciers inside the park, Harrison Glacier is the largest at 1,661,456.75 square meters.
276 species of birds have been documented inside the park. Additionally, 24 species of fish (18 native, 7 non-native), 1,132 vascular plant species, and 858 non-vascular plant species live within the park boundaries. 71 species of mammals live in Glacier National Park, including bats, beavers, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, mountain lions, and bears.
Bears of Glacier National Park
Both black bears and grizzly bears live within Glacier National Park. Black bears are the smallest and most common bear in North America. Males tend to weigh between 180-250 pounds, but can reach up to 400 pounds. They can be a range of colors including black, brown, and cinnamon.
Grizzly bears tend to be much larger, with males weighing between 300-440 pounds. While black bears have a straight snout from nose to ears, grizzly bears have a dished snout profile. Grizzly bears also have a noticeable hump above their shoulders, a feature black bears lack.
Grizzly Bear Safety
Glacier National Park is home to nearly 1,000 bears, so visitors to the park should be prepared for an encounter in case one occurs. Below are several tips to staying safe while hiking in bear country.
- Make Noise: Call out and clap while on the trail. Bears generally move away if they hear people coming close.
- Hike in Groups: Hiking in groups can significantly decrease the risk of an encounter.
- Don’t Run on Trails: Running increases the risk of surprising a bear on the trail.
- Carry Bear Spray: Bear spray has been shown to be the best deterrent to prevent bear attacks.
- Be Aware of Your Surroundings
- Keep Food and Garbage Secure
