Alaska — A recent video captured by Alaska bear guide Brooke Bartleson is challenging one of the most common misconceptions about grizzly bears. In the footage shared on social media, a full-grown mother grizzly climbs a tree while her cubs perch in the branches above. Bartleson said she was originally taught that grizzlies do not climb trees, but witnessing the behavior firsthand in wilderness of the 49th State quickly proved otherwise.
“I remember being told years ago at the start of my career that grizzly bears don’t climb trees. Imagine my shock and disbelief when I moved to Alaska and witnessed this. This full grown momma grizzly climbed a tree with her cubs!” -Brooke Bartleson
While tree climbing is much more common among young bears, scientists say adult grizzlies are still capable of climbing when necessary. Grizzly bears are a subspecies of brown bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) and can weigh several hundred pounds, which makes climbing more difficult than it is for smaller species like black bears. Their large body size and long claws are better adapted for digging and foraging than gripping tree bark, which is why adults are seen climbing far less often than cubs.
Researchers note that cubs frequently climb trees to escape danger or while playing, but adult bears can still ascend trees if motivated by food, safety, or the need to stay close to their young. Wildlife experts also emphasize that climbing a tree is not a reliable way for people to escape a bear encounter because even large grizzlies retain the ability to climb when necessary. Bartleson’s footage offers a rare look at this lesser-known behavior. While grizzlies are generally ground-oriented animals, moments like this highlight just how adaptable these powerful predators can be in the wild.
Be Bear Aware
Seeing a bear is a memorable experience, but your safety and the survival of bears greatly depends on your actions. Serious injuries caused by bears are rare, but the potential for conflict always exists. Please consider reviewing these three important messages, and then investigate the links below for more information about how you can safely live and work on the landscape with bears:
Bears can be anywhere. Assume their presence. Avoiding a conflict is easier than dealing with one.
- Always keep a safe distance from wildlife. Never intentionally get close to a bear.
- Stay alert and look for bear activity, especially where visibility or hearing is limited (woods, bushy areas, streams).
- Travel in a group. Groups of people are usually noisier and less likely to surprise bears.
- Make noise by talking or clapping, especially when visibility or hearing are limited.
- Carry bear spray in an accessible place and know how to use it.
- Avoid traveling at night, dawn, or dusk.
- Avoid carcass sites and evidence of carcasses (such as groups of scavenger birds).
- Anyone moving quickly (i.e. mountain biker, trail runner) is at a higher risk of surprising a bear.
Keep food and other attractants away from bears.
• Never feed wildlife, especially bears. Bears that become food conditioned lose their natural foraging behavior and pose a threat to human safety.
• Bears are curious and food driven.
• Feeding bears puts people and bears at risk.
• Securing food and garbage means keeping it in an approved bear resistant container (locked car, bear box, bear resistant garbage can, etc.) See https://igbconline.org/certified-products-list/ for list of approved products.
Be prepared to handle a bear encounter.
• During an encounter with a bear:
-Never run away. You cannot outrun a bear. Running may trigger a bear to chase.
-Never approach a bear.
• In any bear encounter, your behavior matters. Bears respond to your actions. Both grizzly bears and black bears pose a risk. The bear’s behavior should determine your response. Different situations call for different responses. Click here to learn more about bear behavior.
• Carry bear spray in an accessible place and know how to use it.
