This group of tourists had an intense face-to-face encounter with a grizzly bear while hiking in Glacier National Park this summer. Fortunately nobody attempted to approach the animal or do anything too wild. Despite Holly (the person who shared the video) initially having a moment of apparent panic, the entire group was able to stay calm and convince the grizzly to move away.
Glacier National Park
Often called the “Crown of the Continent”, Glacier National Park is home to over 700 miles of trails. It’s landscape features a stunning showcase of melting glaciers, alpine meadows, carved valleys, and spectacular lakes. Established on May 11, 1910, today Glacier National Park covers 1,012,837 acres. There are 762 lakes inside the park, only 131 of which are named. Of the 26 glaciers inside the park, Harrison Glacier is the largest (1,661,456.75 square meters).
People have documented 276 species of birds inside the park. 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 as well. 71 species of mammals live in Glacier National Park, including both black and grizzly bears.
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
